Disclaimer: As before, don't own digimon. Never have never will.
Chapter Two: The Shadow of The Past
The next day Sora suddenly jerked awake. She had been having a good dream about Tai and her taking a long stroll along a beach. They were about thirty, and married in the dream. She got up, dressed as usual, ate breakfast, and was just getting on the bus when she realized that today was Monday. The Digidestined agreed that every day they would go to the Digital world to check on things. But since stuff almost never happened anymore, they just talked and messed around. She had just gotten off the bus to school when she saw Tai walking in. She dashed up to meet him, and he smiled when he saw her.
"Hi Sora, great day." Tai declared.
"Yeah." She replied. She wanted to tell him about the dream, but decided to wait until they were in the Digital World. They were just turning the corner to their lockers while discussing midterms, when Tai ran into someone. She had long dark hair that wasn't tied up or anything, and looked as though she was thirteen. She had the usual school uniform on. Books that she had been carrying spilled all over the place. No one really noticed but just walked past her.
" Sorry!" she muttered hurriedly to Tai, as she scrambled to pick up her fallen books.
Then when she had retrieved the books she glanced at Tai. Her jaw dropped.
"T-Taichi, Kamyia." she whispered as if she never met anyone like him.
Sora scowled. Tai examined her for a moment, and then his jaw dropped too.
"Serra? Is that you?" They looked at each other for a moment. Then both said at the exact same time " How long?" "What?!" Sora said in an exasperated sort of way, because she was annoyed that this Serra person interrupted their conversation. " This is my friend from." Tai trailed off as Serra picked up ". fifteen years ago." Then they both began to laugh, and kept laughing their heads off until finally they were next to Tai's locker. Sora's face began to burn.
"What's so funny?" she asked heatedly.
"Well, Tai was a great friend of mine about fifteen years ago, we did everything together, but five years later I had to move, I'll always regret that day, but now I moved back." Explained Serra.
"Hey Serra, this is Sora. My girlfriend." Tai said, gesturing to Sora. Serra smiled and said "Pleased to meet you. Still the old stud that you used to be, eh Tai?" Sora was looking mutinous.
"Yeah," agreed Tai, his attention shifting back to Serra (Sora scowled again) "well, good to see you again Serra, it's been so long. Hey, I wonder, where is." but he trailed off as he saw a figure walking forward, towards them. Sora turned and saw a boy with dark brown hair and sparking green eyes that reminded her of the grass blowing in the wind. He too was wearing the school uniform, but was just as tall as Serra, who came up to Sora's throat. He stopped right before Tai, and seemed slightly interested in him being there.
"Hello Tai," he said placidly "hi sis." This comment was directed at Serra. His eyes darted to Sora.
"Hello Sora." Then his eyes darted back to Tai, " Ten years right since I last saw you? But we met fifteen years ago." Before Sora had time to marvel at the fact that he knew her name, as she had never seen him, Tai replied "Yeah. You two haven't grown much since we met, have you?"
They both shook their heads. "It must run in the family." Serra told him. "Hey remember when we." Tai was talking but he stopped by bursting out laughing. The boy and Serra did also.
"What?" said Sora again, annoyed that they kept laughing and she didn't know why.
"The memories, they keep flooding back, all those funny things we did. Blew up a car, don't remember why that was. It's funny in hindsight anyway. Climbed up a flagpole and hung a very stupid looking symbol from it, saying 'Shaddup you stupid cows, and stop following us' because some people kept stalking us and we made sure they could see it. Raided a guy's house cuz he swore at us in the street."
"You did that from ages two to seven?" Sora asked. Andrew shook his head. For some reason he was looking embarrassed. "All that stuff happened when we were seven. We were bad boys." Tai laughed a little more. " Well Andrew, good to see you, and you Serra."
Andrew and Serra were in some if Tai and Sora's classes, including gym, science, and math. Besides being absolutely brilliant with ways no one had ever seen to find equations, and also strange ways to create dangerous chemicals; they were extremely fit and agile. They were playing dodge ball today in gym, sand Andrew and Serra who happened to be on the opposite team of Tai and Sora, kept streaking around the gym floor and pelting people with balls. Their team won seven times in a row.
At the end of the day, Sora was feeling very disdainful. She had tried to make Tai talk to her more and pay more attention to her the whole day, instead of Andrew and Serra, but to no avail. She scowled as a new thought struck her. Maybe Tai and Serra had been in love however many years ago. "Not like I have to worry about anything now. She's freaking tiny!" Sora growled to no one in particular. This didn't calm her. Suddenly Tai, Andrew, and Serra came bursting out of the front doors behind her, bellowing with laughter.
"I remember his face so well. Illuminated by the fire of the smoking wreckage." Tai roared with laughter. "I don't think I'll ever forget that. The real miracle is that we didn't get caught. But then again it never was mentioned. How odd."
"Um, Tai, can I have a moment please?" Sora punctuated into the cries of laughter.
"Sure." Said Tai, still laughing slightly. She lead him away from the crowd of people coming out of the school and turned to face Tai.
"Why are you paying so much attention to them?" Inquired Sora angrily. The smile faded from Tai's face. " Who? Serra and Andrew?" Sora nodded.
"Oh, come on Sora, they're just good old friends. I haven't seen them for ten years. I don't mean to talk to them more than to you, but you know, ten years. Besides, we'll be talking a lot today in the Digital World."
"Well," Sora commented, " Alright, but please try." They turned back to the front of the school and noticed Serra and Andrew walking around the corner of the school. Brow furrowed, Sora and Tai walked around and noticed something odd. There was no trace of the two they were following. There was no place they could have disappeared to.
"Well, let's go to the Digital World." Said Tai.
"Shouldn't we look for them?" asked Sora tentatively.
"Nah." Said Tai. " If you know them it's something you have to get used to. They tend to disappear and reappear when you least expect it."
Later, All of the Digidestined were sprawled out across a beach in the Digiworld, which looked odd to the strange plants of the forest next to the sea. Sora looked at Tai, Matt, Joe, Mimi, Izzy, TK, Kari, Jennifer, Sammy, and Lexx, who were all talking about what they did the last couple of days and about rumors both in the Real and Digital worlds. Sora reported about Serra and Andrew.
" We already know," said TK, " at least I do. Ahhh, the beautiful brown haired Serra," he suddenly sounded dreamy, "and her brother...who is pretty cool." Kari rolled her eyes and smacked him upside the head.
"They're both good friends of mine, from about fifteen years ago." Tai told them. Joe had just opened his mouth to say something when a voice called out from the forest behind them. Turning, Sora suddenly saw Andrew trudging through the plants to get to them.
"Hello, how are you all today?" he said happily. He reached them and asked "Tea?" Before anyone, who was all slightly surprised to see him anyway, could answer he snapped his fingers and a tea tray with tons of little teacups and a pot full of Oolong Green Tea appeared on the ground. Everyone stared as he sat down and poured himself a cup. Andrew held out the teapot out to the Digi-destined and again asked " Tea?" They all accepted the cups and tea opened mouthed as he poured it out, but none drank the stuff, save Andrew. Tai finally broke the silence and asked " How did you get here. are you a Digidestined?" Andrew finished his first tea cup, and while he refilled the china glass again replied "Straight to business eh? I was hoping for time to chat. No, I'm not a Digidestined."
"How did you get here," Asked Matt, sounding slightly suspicious, "and how did you make that." He pointed towards the tray, pot, and cups. " I'm a mage," answered Andrew. " I deal with matter, elements, energy, healing, destruction, and in my case, time magic."
"Mage's don't exist," said Izzy " It's scientifically impossible." Andrew looked annoyed at Izzy, studied him for a moment, and then pointed at him. A spout of water flew up from the ground under him and he hovered, five feet in the air, the water holding him up. Andrew then let his hand lower, and Izzy was lowered to the ground gently. Izzy was scowling when he fell to the ground. " I still don't believe in that kind of stuff." He said stubbornly. " The Digiworld is unpredictable enough, and it could have been anything."
Andrew smiled in the middle of a gulp of tea. " Believe what you want," Andrew replied happily, and he set the cup down as the whole set disappeared. "Anyway, I'm supposed to take you all to Rhune." Everyone scowled at these words. "Where?" they all said. Andrew smiled more broadly. " I'll show you. come on." He nodded towards the water and a large hand made completely of water came above the surface and stretched it's palm out.
Andrew opened his mouth and was about to say something when someone came bursting out of the water and landed on the beach ten feet away. A second later a hunting horn called from the depths of the forest behind them. "John!" Andrew called in surprised. "What is it?" The boy had jet-black hair, and seemingly pure, gray eyes. " A crowd of dark seekers, and seemingly a Torm champion." Andrew, who didn't answer, looked petrified with fear. He yelled at the hand: "The Tides of the World take people more places then the tides of the world!" It sounded very contradictory, but a whirlpool formed around the hand and Andrew shouted to the Digidestined, " Go to the hand and say: Rhune. Then stand on it in turn." The Digidestined were stunned.
"Buh buh why?" Asked Sammie. "Because when these guys get here they'll kill you easily. And calling your Digimon won't help." Replied the one called John. Tai's face hardened and he strode forward, shouted "Rhune!" then stood on the hand. It submerged deep into the world pool and Tai disappeared with it. Sora cried out sadly but Andrew called "He'll be fine!" Andrew pulled out a long shimmering sword and urged the companions onward. Matt, Joe, and Lexx had disappeared into the waters before the sound of hooves came from the Forest. "Go!" Bellowed the boy called John as he loaded a crossbow that he had pulled out of his jacket.
" Who is that?" Inquired a voice. All of the Digidestined's Digimon had appeared in rookie form. "What's going on?" Asked Agumon. Andrew sighed. " Take them all!" he shouted to Sora as he pointed as the hand. It became larger and John shouted " All of you at once!" Sora was just striding forward as Andrew said " Too late." A huge black figure came bursting out of the forest.
He was mounted on a black horse, which had red eyes, black armor, and a very evil looking spear. When he came out he thrust the spear at Andrew, who warded of the blow with his sword. " GO!" he shouted at them. The rest of the Digidestined shouted: Rhune! And seized their Digimon, then stood on the hand. It submerged, and Sora felt as if she were being sucked through the world. Down and down she went, until. SPLAT! She suddenly flopped out of a wall of water onto a soft carpet. A figure suddenly was standing in front of the Digidestined and the Digimon. "What a very stupid entrance you all made. Where's Andrew?" Said the voice of Serra reprovingly. She was wearing silvery white robes that shimmered slightly. Behind her was a room with tons of chairs and stairs behind them. Sora got up and, hiding her curiosity at Serra being there, explained to Serra, Tai, Matt, Joe, and Lexx what had happened. Serra looked terrified, and cried " Not HIM." She walked towards the wall of water where they had come from. But before she had reached the wall there was a loud splash, then Andrew and John came falling through the wall.
"What happened?" She cried, her face ghastly white. "A Champion of Torm." Gasped Andrew. He looked as if he had just run full speed from one side of Tokyo to the other. John was gasping like Andrew, but not as heavily. He loaded up his crossbow, which he had apparently fired at the Champion of Torm. "That thing was nastier than usual. Andrew almost got stabbed by that spear again." Explained John. Serra gave a stifled cry. "I'm fine, he missed." Reported Andrew.
"You be careful Andrew Windstalker." Said Serra, still biting her lip. " I've never seen one like it. I couldn't kill him with the Lance of Destiny, and that thing was the most powerful magical item I've ever seen." Andrew nodded grimly, but then turned to the Digidestined and their Digimon.
"I think it's time we did some explaining." Andrew muttered, conspiratorially. "Sit down, sit down, I'll be right back." He called. Andrew left the room and they heard him thumping up the steps. Agumon groaned loudly. Everyone jumped except Serra, who pulled a flask out of her robes and took a swig of a yellow liquid.
"What is it Agumon?" asked Tai.
"I feel terrible." Groaned Agumon. The other Digimon murmured darkly in agreement. Before anyone said anything Andrew came down the stairs and into the room in silvery white robes. He took one look at the Digimon and blinked as if he had just noticed them. Then he chuckled.
"Ah, shudda remembered."
"What?" Asked Lexxy anxiously.
"Should have remembered that your Digimon can't come out of the Digital World and into this world without being ill." Smiled Andrew. Mimi squealed unhappily.
"Don't worry, we can help them." Andrew walked to the Digimon and looked into the nearest Digimon's (Gabumon) eyes. Gabumon looked away ruefully to Matt and asked, "Can I trust him?" Matt examined Andrew thoroughly then nodded. Gabumon looked back and let Andrew examine his eyes.
"Amazing.simply amazing." He muttered. Sora was burning to know what was amazing, because something amazing to a Mage, she decided he was one now, must really be something extraordinary, but she held back. After a minute of studying Gabumon's eyes, Andrew announced that he was ill adapted to the conditions of this world (everyone scowled in puzzlement). Then he walked to another drawer and picked out a flask.
"Essence of Rhune." The Essence of Rhune bottle was thin and small, with about a Liter of shining green liquid. He smiled, then walked over to Agumon, and poured a single drop down Agumon's throat. Agumon suddenly relaxed and turned less pale. Then he smiled a very toothy smile and said, " I feel great, even. even," "Magical?" Offered Andrew, smiling. "YES." Cried Agumon. Andrew distributed some the Essence of Rhune to all of the Digimon. They all seemed very happy when they had their drop of the stuff. When all of the Digimon had been remedied, Andrew turned to The Digidestined, and explained, "When they leave the Digital World, their strength comes from the World, as they were born there, they become weak and pale. Since your world and the Digital World are almost one in the same, they're okay if they go to your world. They would die in days if I let them. Since I gave them a drop of the Essence of Rhune, they became accustomed to the magic of this world." A very surprised pause followed this. Finally, Lexx asked, "What do you mean, 'This world'?" Andrew's smile grew, opened a door hidden in the shadows, and beckoned them to follow him. They had walked into a hall, lined with pictures of smiling Angels. There was a door made of cherry wood, which Andrew flung open and showed them.
"It's beautiful." Mimi trailed off. There were plains of wheat, but not any the way they had seen it. Instead of slightly light brown, the wheat was pure gold, shimmering in the high noon sun. There were trees about five meters away, but the trunks were silvery, and the leaves of the pine needles were deep blood red, jade green, sparkling blue, rosy pink, and sun orange. Even though the sun was up in the sky at noon, they could see two moons, one an iron gray, and the other, a deep purple. "Welcome, welcome to Rhune, my world."
Chapter Two: The Shadow of The Past
The next day Sora suddenly jerked awake. She had been having a good dream about Tai and her taking a long stroll along a beach. They were about thirty, and married in the dream. She got up, dressed as usual, ate breakfast, and was just getting on the bus when she realized that today was Monday. The Digidestined agreed that every day they would go to the Digital world to check on things. But since stuff almost never happened anymore, they just talked and messed around. She had just gotten off the bus to school when she saw Tai walking in. She dashed up to meet him, and he smiled when he saw her.
"Hi Sora, great day." Tai declared.
"Yeah." She replied. She wanted to tell him about the dream, but decided to wait until they were in the Digital World. They were just turning the corner to their lockers while discussing midterms, when Tai ran into someone. She had long dark hair that wasn't tied up or anything, and looked as though she was thirteen. She had the usual school uniform on. Books that she had been carrying spilled all over the place. No one really noticed but just walked past her.
" Sorry!" she muttered hurriedly to Tai, as she scrambled to pick up her fallen books.
Then when she had retrieved the books she glanced at Tai. Her jaw dropped.
"T-Taichi, Kamyia." she whispered as if she never met anyone like him.
Sora scowled. Tai examined her for a moment, and then his jaw dropped too.
"Serra? Is that you?" They looked at each other for a moment. Then both said at the exact same time " How long?" "What?!" Sora said in an exasperated sort of way, because she was annoyed that this Serra person interrupted their conversation. " This is my friend from." Tai trailed off as Serra picked up ". fifteen years ago." Then they both began to laugh, and kept laughing their heads off until finally they were next to Tai's locker. Sora's face began to burn.
"What's so funny?" she asked heatedly.
"Well, Tai was a great friend of mine about fifteen years ago, we did everything together, but five years later I had to move, I'll always regret that day, but now I moved back." Explained Serra.
"Hey Serra, this is Sora. My girlfriend." Tai said, gesturing to Sora. Serra smiled and said "Pleased to meet you. Still the old stud that you used to be, eh Tai?" Sora was looking mutinous.
"Yeah," agreed Tai, his attention shifting back to Serra (Sora scowled again) "well, good to see you again Serra, it's been so long. Hey, I wonder, where is." but he trailed off as he saw a figure walking forward, towards them. Sora turned and saw a boy with dark brown hair and sparking green eyes that reminded her of the grass blowing in the wind. He too was wearing the school uniform, but was just as tall as Serra, who came up to Sora's throat. He stopped right before Tai, and seemed slightly interested in him being there.
"Hello Tai," he said placidly "hi sis." This comment was directed at Serra. His eyes darted to Sora.
"Hello Sora." Then his eyes darted back to Tai, " Ten years right since I last saw you? But we met fifteen years ago." Before Sora had time to marvel at the fact that he knew her name, as she had never seen him, Tai replied "Yeah. You two haven't grown much since we met, have you?"
They both shook their heads. "It must run in the family." Serra told him. "Hey remember when we." Tai was talking but he stopped by bursting out laughing. The boy and Serra did also.
"What?" said Sora again, annoyed that they kept laughing and she didn't know why.
"The memories, they keep flooding back, all those funny things we did. Blew up a car, don't remember why that was. It's funny in hindsight anyway. Climbed up a flagpole and hung a very stupid looking symbol from it, saying 'Shaddup you stupid cows, and stop following us' because some people kept stalking us and we made sure they could see it. Raided a guy's house cuz he swore at us in the street."
"You did that from ages two to seven?" Sora asked. Andrew shook his head. For some reason he was looking embarrassed. "All that stuff happened when we were seven. We were bad boys." Tai laughed a little more. " Well Andrew, good to see you, and you Serra."
Andrew and Serra were in some if Tai and Sora's classes, including gym, science, and math. Besides being absolutely brilliant with ways no one had ever seen to find equations, and also strange ways to create dangerous chemicals; they were extremely fit and agile. They were playing dodge ball today in gym, sand Andrew and Serra who happened to be on the opposite team of Tai and Sora, kept streaking around the gym floor and pelting people with balls. Their team won seven times in a row.
At the end of the day, Sora was feeling very disdainful. She had tried to make Tai talk to her more and pay more attention to her the whole day, instead of Andrew and Serra, but to no avail. She scowled as a new thought struck her. Maybe Tai and Serra had been in love however many years ago. "Not like I have to worry about anything now. She's freaking tiny!" Sora growled to no one in particular. This didn't calm her. Suddenly Tai, Andrew, and Serra came bursting out of the front doors behind her, bellowing with laughter.
"I remember his face so well. Illuminated by the fire of the smoking wreckage." Tai roared with laughter. "I don't think I'll ever forget that. The real miracle is that we didn't get caught. But then again it never was mentioned. How odd."
"Um, Tai, can I have a moment please?" Sora punctuated into the cries of laughter.
"Sure." Said Tai, still laughing slightly. She lead him away from the crowd of people coming out of the school and turned to face Tai.
"Why are you paying so much attention to them?" Inquired Sora angrily. The smile faded from Tai's face. " Who? Serra and Andrew?" Sora nodded.
"Oh, come on Sora, they're just good old friends. I haven't seen them for ten years. I don't mean to talk to them more than to you, but you know, ten years. Besides, we'll be talking a lot today in the Digital World."
"Well," Sora commented, " Alright, but please try." They turned back to the front of the school and noticed Serra and Andrew walking around the corner of the school. Brow furrowed, Sora and Tai walked around and noticed something odd. There was no trace of the two they were following. There was no place they could have disappeared to.
"Well, let's go to the Digital World." Said Tai.
"Shouldn't we look for them?" asked Sora tentatively.
"Nah." Said Tai. " If you know them it's something you have to get used to. They tend to disappear and reappear when you least expect it."
Later, All of the Digidestined were sprawled out across a beach in the Digiworld, which looked odd to the strange plants of the forest next to the sea. Sora looked at Tai, Matt, Joe, Mimi, Izzy, TK, Kari, Jennifer, Sammy, and Lexx, who were all talking about what they did the last couple of days and about rumors both in the Real and Digital worlds. Sora reported about Serra and Andrew.
" We already know," said TK, " at least I do. Ahhh, the beautiful brown haired Serra," he suddenly sounded dreamy, "and her brother...who is pretty cool." Kari rolled her eyes and smacked him upside the head.
"They're both good friends of mine, from about fifteen years ago." Tai told them. Joe had just opened his mouth to say something when a voice called out from the forest behind them. Turning, Sora suddenly saw Andrew trudging through the plants to get to them.
"Hello, how are you all today?" he said happily. He reached them and asked "Tea?" Before anyone, who was all slightly surprised to see him anyway, could answer he snapped his fingers and a tea tray with tons of little teacups and a pot full of Oolong Green Tea appeared on the ground. Everyone stared as he sat down and poured himself a cup. Andrew held out the teapot out to the Digi-destined and again asked " Tea?" They all accepted the cups and tea opened mouthed as he poured it out, but none drank the stuff, save Andrew. Tai finally broke the silence and asked " How did you get here. are you a Digidestined?" Andrew finished his first tea cup, and while he refilled the china glass again replied "Straight to business eh? I was hoping for time to chat. No, I'm not a Digidestined."
"How did you get here," Asked Matt, sounding slightly suspicious, "and how did you make that." He pointed towards the tray, pot, and cups. " I'm a mage," answered Andrew. " I deal with matter, elements, energy, healing, destruction, and in my case, time magic."
"Mage's don't exist," said Izzy " It's scientifically impossible." Andrew looked annoyed at Izzy, studied him for a moment, and then pointed at him. A spout of water flew up from the ground under him and he hovered, five feet in the air, the water holding him up. Andrew then let his hand lower, and Izzy was lowered to the ground gently. Izzy was scowling when he fell to the ground. " I still don't believe in that kind of stuff." He said stubbornly. " The Digiworld is unpredictable enough, and it could have been anything."
Andrew smiled in the middle of a gulp of tea. " Believe what you want," Andrew replied happily, and he set the cup down as the whole set disappeared. "Anyway, I'm supposed to take you all to Rhune." Everyone scowled at these words. "Where?" they all said. Andrew smiled more broadly. " I'll show you. come on." He nodded towards the water and a large hand made completely of water came above the surface and stretched it's palm out.
Andrew opened his mouth and was about to say something when someone came bursting out of the water and landed on the beach ten feet away. A second later a hunting horn called from the depths of the forest behind them. "John!" Andrew called in surprised. "What is it?" The boy had jet-black hair, and seemingly pure, gray eyes. " A crowd of dark seekers, and seemingly a Torm champion." Andrew, who didn't answer, looked petrified with fear. He yelled at the hand: "The Tides of the World take people more places then the tides of the world!" It sounded very contradictory, but a whirlpool formed around the hand and Andrew shouted to the Digidestined, " Go to the hand and say: Rhune. Then stand on it in turn." The Digidestined were stunned.
"Buh buh why?" Asked Sammie. "Because when these guys get here they'll kill you easily. And calling your Digimon won't help." Replied the one called John. Tai's face hardened and he strode forward, shouted "Rhune!" then stood on the hand. It submerged deep into the world pool and Tai disappeared with it. Sora cried out sadly but Andrew called "He'll be fine!" Andrew pulled out a long shimmering sword and urged the companions onward. Matt, Joe, and Lexx had disappeared into the waters before the sound of hooves came from the Forest. "Go!" Bellowed the boy called John as he loaded a crossbow that he had pulled out of his jacket.
" Who is that?" Inquired a voice. All of the Digidestined's Digimon had appeared in rookie form. "What's going on?" Asked Agumon. Andrew sighed. " Take them all!" he shouted to Sora as he pointed as the hand. It became larger and John shouted " All of you at once!" Sora was just striding forward as Andrew said " Too late." A huge black figure came bursting out of the forest.
He was mounted on a black horse, which had red eyes, black armor, and a very evil looking spear. When he came out he thrust the spear at Andrew, who warded of the blow with his sword. " GO!" he shouted at them. The rest of the Digidestined shouted: Rhune! And seized their Digimon, then stood on the hand. It submerged, and Sora felt as if she were being sucked through the world. Down and down she went, until. SPLAT! She suddenly flopped out of a wall of water onto a soft carpet. A figure suddenly was standing in front of the Digidestined and the Digimon. "What a very stupid entrance you all made. Where's Andrew?" Said the voice of Serra reprovingly. She was wearing silvery white robes that shimmered slightly. Behind her was a room with tons of chairs and stairs behind them. Sora got up and, hiding her curiosity at Serra being there, explained to Serra, Tai, Matt, Joe, and Lexx what had happened. Serra looked terrified, and cried " Not HIM." She walked towards the wall of water where they had come from. But before she had reached the wall there was a loud splash, then Andrew and John came falling through the wall.
"What happened?" She cried, her face ghastly white. "A Champion of Torm." Gasped Andrew. He looked as if he had just run full speed from one side of Tokyo to the other. John was gasping like Andrew, but not as heavily. He loaded up his crossbow, which he had apparently fired at the Champion of Torm. "That thing was nastier than usual. Andrew almost got stabbed by that spear again." Explained John. Serra gave a stifled cry. "I'm fine, he missed." Reported Andrew.
"You be careful Andrew Windstalker." Said Serra, still biting her lip. " I've never seen one like it. I couldn't kill him with the Lance of Destiny, and that thing was the most powerful magical item I've ever seen." Andrew nodded grimly, but then turned to the Digidestined and their Digimon.
"I think it's time we did some explaining." Andrew muttered, conspiratorially. "Sit down, sit down, I'll be right back." He called. Andrew left the room and they heard him thumping up the steps. Agumon groaned loudly. Everyone jumped except Serra, who pulled a flask out of her robes and took a swig of a yellow liquid.
"What is it Agumon?" asked Tai.
"I feel terrible." Groaned Agumon. The other Digimon murmured darkly in agreement. Before anyone said anything Andrew came down the stairs and into the room in silvery white robes. He took one look at the Digimon and blinked as if he had just noticed them. Then he chuckled.
"Ah, shudda remembered."
"What?" Asked Lexxy anxiously.
"Should have remembered that your Digimon can't come out of the Digital World and into this world without being ill." Smiled Andrew. Mimi squealed unhappily.
"Don't worry, we can help them." Andrew walked to the Digimon and looked into the nearest Digimon's (Gabumon) eyes. Gabumon looked away ruefully to Matt and asked, "Can I trust him?" Matt examined Andrew thoroughly then nodded. Gabumon looked back and let Andrew examine his eyes.
"Amazing.simply amazing." He muttered. Sora was burning to know what was amazing, because something amazing to a Mage, she decided he was one now, must really be something extraordinary, but she held back. After a minute of studying Gabumon's eyes, Andrew announced that he was ill adapted to the conditions of this world (everyone scowled in puzzlement). Then he walked to another drawer and picked out a flask.
"Essence of Rhune." The Essence of Rhune bottle was thin and small, with about a Liter of shining green liquid. He smiled, then walked over to Agumon, and poured a single drop down Agumon's throat. Agumon suddenly relaxed and turned less pale. Then he smiled a very toothy smile and said, " I feel great, even. even," "Magical?" Offered Andrew, smiling. "YES." Cried Agumon. Andrew distributed some the Essence of Rhune to all of the Digimon. They all seemed very happy when they had their drop of the stuff. When all of the Digimon had been remedied, Andrew turned to The Digidestined, and explained, "When they leave the Digital World, their strength comes from the World, as they were born there, they become weak and pale. Since your world and the Digital World are almost one in the same, they're okay if they go to your world. They would die in days if I let them. Since I gave them a drop of the Essence of Rhune, they became accustomed to the magic of this world." A very surprised pause followed this. Finally, Lexx asked, "What do you mean, 'This world'?" Andrew's smile grew, opened a door hidden in the shadows, and beckoned them to follow him. They had walked into a hall, lined with pictures of smiling Angels. There was a door made of cherry wood, which Andrew flung open and showed them.
"It's beautiful." Mimi trailed off. There were plains of wheat, but not any the way they had seen it. Instead of slightly light brown, the wheat was pure gold, shimmering in the high noon sun. There were trees about five meters away, but the trunks were silvery, and the leaves of the pine needles were deep blood red, jade green, sparkling blue, rosy pink, and sun orange. Even though the sun was up in the sky at noon, they could see two moons, one an iron gray, and the other, a deep purple. "Welcome, welcome to Rhune, my world."