The moment the Earth, with all its computer systems, was destroyed, the Digital World began to fall apart. Starting at the far reaches, everything dissolved into bits of data, which flowed inward to the digital nexus that was File Island and then disappeared. It had all been reconfigured before, three years ago, but this was much scarier, much more final.

The Harmonious Ones, who protected each of the Digital World's four continents, knew what had happened. They made all speed to File Island to decide what to do. On the side of Infinity Mountain, they held one last meeting.

"The Digital World is deleting quickly," said Qinglongmon. "Without the support of the computer systems of the real world, it can't hold itself together."

"Where are the Chosen Children?" asked Zhuqiaomon.

"Dead," answered Qinglongmon. "They were all in the real world when it happened."

"At least they didn't get deleted here," said Baihumon, the tiger. "I would feel terrible if that happened."

"There wouldn't be any way to save them," said Xuanwumon, the turtle. "And no way to save our world, either. No hope."

"Nor light, nor anything else," sighed Qinglongmon.

"Hey, wait!" someone else said suddenly.

The Harmonious Ones' old friend Gennai was flying above them, mounted on an Airdramon. He was carrying one of the television monitors that the Chosen Children had used as gateways back to the Real World.

"Hello, Gennai," said Qinglongmon. "Do you have something to say?"

"Yes, sir," said Gennai. He dismounted, set the television on the ground, and knelt behind it. "I have thought of a way to keep our world alive."

"Speak, then."

"Not long ago, a visitor came to the Digital World. I was able to foresee her coming, and I left her a gift and a letter that named her as a friend of the Digital World. I've been keeping track of her as if she were Chosen, and I've found that she somehow got onto one of the spaceships that destroyed the Real World. I believe that among the five of us, we can form some of our world's data into a Digi-Egg, and use this TV to send it to her. Hopefully, she'll take it to another civilized world and leave it there to grow into a new Digital World."

"How do you know there is another civilized world?"

"Those ships must have come from somewhere."

"You have thought wisely, Gennai. Come, let us collect the data."

Long streams of data were now flowing past them to the summit of the mountain, where it was disappearing. The four Digimon began catching them as they passed and collecting them in front of the TV. Gennai carefully molded them into the shape of a Digi-Egg.

Soon, the island was the last piece of land left. At this point, the Guardians stopped collecting data and gathered around the TV. To complete the Digi-Egg, they each contributed half of their own data, and in so doing regressed to their Child forms.
Gennai took out a small electronic gadget with a screen and a few buttons. It was the prototype for the D-3s that had belonged to six of the Chosen Children. He looked at the screen. Good – Vanessa's signal was still there, and she was near what appeared to be a small, portable computer. Perfect.

"It's time to send this egg on its way," he said. He held the device up to the TV. "Digital gate open!"

The gate opened, and Gennai sent the Digi-Egg through it. "Good luck," he said.

He and the now small Guardians watched as the last of the land dissolved into data. In moments, without any pain or regrets, they were gone.

Disclaimer: Digimon and all characters and indicia are property of Hongo Akiyoshi, Toei, Bandai, and Disney. No money is being made off this; I write because it's fun. :-)