. . .

Samantha and Kai

. . .

Once their objective was clear, Samantha and Kai departed the hidden mountain lab, making their way back towards the village of Kotemon's people. Hoping to make use of the favor Knightmon owed them in securing a ride to the southern continent, and perhaps the western as well. They traveled through the night, reducing the time to reach the village once more, arriving tired but met by friendly faces.

"You're back already?" Gladimon questioned upon their arrival at the gate. "And who's this? Another human?"

Kotemon nodded, "That's right, we met with the uh... Hermit, and need to speak with Knightmon immediately."

Gladimon quirked an eyebrow as he looked at the humans, both of which had dark circles under their eyes. "You look like you need a nap, besides Knightmon isn't here." He shrugged, "He's off patrolling, probably won't be back for a few hours."

Sam sighed heavily, "Well that sucks, can't believe we rushed all the way here just to wait."

"Perhaps its for the best," Darcmon chimed in, "You two could use some sleep, we all could I think."

"Fair enough," Kai sighed, as they made their way through the gate. "Not much we can do but wait around anyways." Before he had another thought, "Sam, there is something here I wanted to show you."

She blinked, shooting him a curious look, "Oh?"

"You too Darcmon," Kai added, waving for them to follow as he began making way for the temple at the center of town. "I wanted your thoughts on it..."

"And what am I? Chopped digi-liver?" Kotemon scoffed, following along as well. "Is this about the murals?"

"It is." Kai nodded as they went, soon reaching the open temple and beginning the descent down the same stairs Morphomon had shown him before. Until they entered the chamber hidden below, walls lined with torches illuminating the strange artwork scrawled on the cavern walls. "I wanted to know what you make of these Crests."

"Right," Sam nodded, walking along the wall to examine the images. "You said the Crest you awoke here is what allowed Kotemon to digivolve to Ultimate level."

Kotemon quickly adding in, "And it gave Kai the power to heal too!"

"You're native to this world," Kai continued, "Have you or Darcmon ever heard of these Crests? Or these legends of humans and digimon saving the world?"

"Well, now that you mention it..." Remembering the Prophecy her father had learned of, "They're just old stories, forgotten history..." Not too sure she believed in it all just yet. "I can't speculate on the past, but you were chosen and awoke this power within yourself, we can assume the others that were chosen will awaken their own abilities as well."

"And what about you two?" Kotemon questioned, looking between Sam and her partner. "You've been together for awhile, have you ever found a Crest?"

"Uh-" Sam seemed to hesitate, shifting nervously. "No, not that we were looking or anything..."

Darcmon quickly adding, "As we have said, our union was different than yours, we weren't really... Chosen, like the rest of you, just... Brought into existence."

Kai sighed lightly, "Well, there goes the hope of finding answers here I suppose." Before he struggled to stifle a yawn, "Alright, lets get some shut eye before Knightmon returns."

Sam stretched out a bit, nodding her head. "Sounds good to me." Before noting Darcmon's look, "A-Actually, you two go on ahead, I wanna check these images out a bit more, maybe snap some pics for Dad to look at..."

"Sure," Kotemon shrugged, "We'll make sure there are open beds for you!" Before the two made their way back up the stairs, leaving Samantha and her partner alone in the large chamber.

"Alright, what are you thinking?" Sam asked, crossing her arms.

Darcmon ran her hands along the images. "I think... We need to figure out exactly what that symbol on your chest is."

Sam stiffening before glaring at her, "Sssh! Can you not be so loud about that?" She said sharply, leaning in closer. "Maybe it really is just a birthmark, some weird symbol to show that I'm not a normal human?"

Darcmon shook her head, hardly convinced. "We can safely assume it isn't a Crest, based on Kai's description of how his activates."

"So maybe its nothing." Samantha shrugged, "No reason to bring it up."

"Perhaps, but aren't you curious?" She asked, placing a hand on her hip. "You've carried that symbol since you were born, the same symbol that was on my Egg... And we still have no idea what it is."

"Yeah, I'm curious... And terrified." Samantha replied, shifting in place. "Maybe... It could have something to do with why you haven't digivolved yet."

"Kai said his Crest was the symbol of Integrity," Darcmon went on, "Perhaps we just don't know what your symbol is meant to represent."

To which Sam sighed heavily, "If that was the case, then maybe its something I just don't have..." Starting to make her way towards the stairs, "Come on, I'm ready for bed."

Darcmon watched her begin to climb, slowly nodding. "Right behind you." Though, a part of her was left wondering. "Terrified of what, exactly?"

. . .

Thomas and Cody

. . .

Meanwhile, back at the Volcano lab of Samantha's mother, the two geniuses were hard at work examining the digivices and working out a way to broaden their communication capabilities. Thomas and Angela getting along quite well as they shared notes, Thomas offering insight into the developments of Cyber Core and Angela sharing what she knew about the structure of the Digital World.

"From what I can tell, this world we're in is only one sphere of many." She would explain, sparks flashing as Thomas toyed with some wires. "Some exist above and below this one, but how to travel between them or if other digimon are even aware of their existence I cannot say."

"Interesting... I'd love to explore this world more once my friends are out of danger."

While Cody snoozed on a table nearby, having dozed off in boredom listening to them chattering while they worked. His only input being when they required him to grab something heavy or help move stuff.

Keeping a safe distance from it all were Shamanmon and Kokuwamon. The duo hanging around and watching, keeping an especially close watch on the pod containing Jazamon and Vorvomon nearby. Shamanmon munching on a few snacks, while Kokuwamon remained "fed" by simply plugging a cable into a nearby outlet whenever he felt hungry.

"Your partner sure is smart," Shamanmon noted idly as he watched them working. "I don't understand half of what he says sometimes..."

Kokuwamon laughed lightly, "Yeah once he gets going on a project its hard to pull him away... But Cody seems nice, I wish we'd gotten to know each other better before we were all sucked here." Leaning against the wall and pouting, "I wanted to meet Thomas' parents..."

"You'll get your chance I'm sure," Shamanmon assured, giving him a thumbs up. "Cody said he'd introduce me to his Grandma and older Brother when we make it back to his world too!"

"Oh?" Kokuwamon blinked, "Cody has a brother? And... What's a Grandma?"

"Like a mom I guess, but a lot older." He shrugged, "Cody said Dustin, his brother, was even tougher than him!"

"Whoa..." Kokuwamon stared over at Cody in awe. "These humans are something else... I'm glad Thomas has Cody looking out for him."

"Yeah..." Shamanmon looked towards them, before frowning slightly. "Cody acts like he's only good in a fight... Just taking a punch or punching others, that's why he fought so hard before, and got himself hurt."

Kokuwamon tilted his head, "You're worried about him huh?"

Shamanmon sighed and nodded, "Yeah... I'm afraid he's gonna do something... Really stupid."

Before Kokuwamon grabbed Shamanmon's hand with one of his pincers. "Well, since Cody's looking out for Thomas, we'll both just have to look out for Cody ourselves!"

The goblin digimon blinked in surprise, before a wide grin spread across his face. "Ha! Yeah, we'll just have to work harder and protect them both, together!"

Bonds between not only humans and their partners, but between the digimon themselves were growing as well...

. . .

Samantha and Kai

. . .

"Are you saying you won't help us?" Kotemon asked, looking up at his former master.

"Not at all, its just..." Knightmon shifting nervously, "I don't quite think you understand what you're getting into... Traveling to the south is one thing, but you intend to go into the west as well? That's suicide."

"Yeah you mentioned Mephistomon before," Kai chimed in, arms folded over his chest. "Something about incredible power."

Knightmon sighed and nodded his head, "He is a tyrant that wields unfathomable power that resides at the center of the western continent." He explained, "From a great palace raised over a once sacred sight, as a dark lord ruminating on his vile plans."

"Hmm... Well, that's where our friend is so we're going to have to go there." Kai shrugged, "No way around it, besides we won't be alone out there." He assured, looking to Sam, "We've got others who were chosen, just like us."

"Indeed..." Knightmon didn't seem up to arguing with those that had humbled him. "I can hardly doubt your decisions after my own blunders, very well, I shall grant you passage atop my steed."

"Thank you," Kotemon beamed, looking around at the others. "So uh, how long will it take us to cross the ocean?"

"A few hours, to the south anyways." Knightmon shrugged. "But you'll have to find your own way to the West."

"A few hours?" Kotemon repeated, tilting his head. "How exactly does it take you so long to patrol the area if you can cross an entire ocean in a few hours?"

Knightmon hesitated. "I... I take my time to enjoy the scenery..."

Sam rolled her eyes, finally stepping in. "Great, we've got our ride to the south but why won't Maildramon take us to the West? You just said you're okay with us going."

"For your safety," He replied simply, "Maildramon is an ultimate level, and he is quite large, he'd likely be noticed arriving in those lands."

"Oh I see," Darcmon nodded, "If we're diving into enemy territory, we should find a way to get there without being detected."

"Good thinking," Kai nodded, "If everything's settled, we should hurry up and get going, who knows what kinda trouble the others might be in by now."

. . .

Mephistomon

. . .

The earth shook, as the great black dragon was slammed into the surface of an unforgiving stone flood. Sending cracks throughout the surface, while its tormentor hovered overhead.

"How many times are you going to make me do this?" Mephistomon questioned, folding both arms over his chest. "Is submission not preferable to suffering? To being destroyed again?"

"HRAAAGH!" Devidramon screamed up at him, launching herself from the ground on tattered wings. She attempted to reach for him with crimson claws, but he charged right through her attack. Grabbing her by the neck with one of his elongated arms, driving her into the far wall of this abyssal cavern. Forcing the wind, and much of the fight, out of her with his brutal display of force.

He turned, throwing her back to the center. "This is the farthest you've ever come, you're so close... But instead you choose this pointless resistance!" His eyes narrowing as he saw her starting to rise once more. He came crashing down on her with both of his hooves, driving them into her back and smashing her right back down into the floor. "Do you think I enjoy this?" He questioned, slowly stepping off of her back before walking around to her front. "Your pain is my pain, but I will do what I must to bring you back."

She weakly lifted her head, body screaming and aching to stop moving. Everything hurt, she just wanted to close her eyes and never wake up again. Anything to make the pain end.

At least... That's how she remembered feeling before, but now- "Won't... Ever..." Because now she was holding onto something.

"Of course, you can't abandon your dear Madison," He sighed and shook his head, kneeling down so they were at eye level. "You were lucky the first time you transformed, and Dragomon made an excellent target for your aggression after that, but how long do you think you can keep yourself from destroying her too?" He questioned, making Devidramon stiffen. "So many friends destroyed because you couldn't control your power, you know this and yet you still refuse to accept my guidance?"

"Because... B-Because you're..." She shuddered and cringed, trying to push herself up before collapsing back down under her own weight. "A monster..."

"Indeed, I am a monster." He chuckled in amusement, standing back up and spreading his arms. "As it stands, I'm leagues ahead of you in power, yet you don't see me accidentally destroying anything!" Mephistomon exclaimed with a laugh, "Do you know why? Because I don't fear my power, I've mastered it! And until you do the same and accept who you really are, it will always control you."

Devidramon snarled, not wanting to believe him. Even knowing how good it felt to digivolve on her own, to channel all that power at Dragomon. "NO! W-Won't listen!" She grabbed her head with both hands, starting to curl up.

Earning more boisterous laughter from the Dark Lord, "Yes you see but you refuse to understand! Maybe if I put it into terms you can't ignore!" He grabbed Devidramon, picking her up with one arm. "Your precious human is going to die, whether its by your own hand or mine if you don't give me what I want!" He shouted in her face, "But if you start cooperating, I might be so inclined to let her leave this place... That would get her out of harms way, away from you and away from me..."

Devidramon grit her teeth, all four eyes clenched shut. "But... Sh-She's my..." Fighting back the heat building up behind all four of her eyes.

"Your partner, indeed." He scoffed, dropping her back on the ground. "Severe the bond, grow with your own strength! Not the pathetic platitudes she provides that keep you in check! And accept who you really are!"

There was something about this place, twisted and wrong. A chamber buried deep beneath the palace, it's where she'd been kept since she'd arrived here. A terrible darkness had consumed this place, an unnatural pressure, an evil unlike anything Tsukaimon had felt but what somehow familiar to her. This had to be the source of Mephistomon's power, maybe this black empty pit was the very hole he crawled out of?

"Ngh!" And her own body was starting to react to it, she could feel something inside of her starting to break. This terrible place, it was drawing something out even as her own willpower began to fade. "He's too powerful... It's the only way... To protect her..."

"Yes, do it!" Mephistomon could see the creepy darkness beginning to emit from her body. Slowly surrounding the beaten and brutalized dragon. "SEVERE THE BOND AND RETURN TO ME!"

She stared up at the ceiling as the darkness began to completely consume her, "To protect her I... I have to-" Tears beginning to run from all four eyes.

Mephistomon's face twisting into a wicked sneer as he watched it envelop her entirely, "It's over."

"Let her go..."

. . .

Madison

. . .

Madison had been sitting at the vanity in her room when it happened, her eyes darting from the notebook laid out in front of her as her Digivice suddenly sparked to life. Her heart soaring for the briefest of moments, thinking it might be her friends, or her partner reaching out to her. But as she reached for the device, her hopes turned to horror.

The lights that had drawn her eyes were gone in an instant, her digivice now lined with cracks. The screen completely unresponsive, shattered to the point it wasn't even readable. The very frame of the device looking like it might fall apart at any moment. She was hesitant even to touch it, and as her fingers gently picked the device up, flakes and crumbled bits fell to dust.

She reached the door before her chair even finished toppling over, pushing through and running down the hall. Completely ignoring the guards behind her shouting, "Oh dammit not again!"

But she wasn't running away, Madison was racing as fast as she could towards the main hall. Stumbling a few times as she traveled down staircases and through dark halls. Even as her lungs burned and her legs ached, begging her to stop for just a moment, she couldn't. Because if she stopped, she might have time to think about what could have happened to Tsu.

Madison refused to speculate, she had been kept in the dark for too long, she had to know what was happening now.

The doors of the main hall came into view just as Myotismon was passing through them. He heard her approach and looked to her with surprise, "You're here... Interesting," He said, "I was just sent to go get you..."

Madison tried to speak but coughed roughly instead. Her throat dry and aching from her heavy breathing. "W-Where... Where is she?" The young girl demanded as best she could, "What did- what did Mephistomon do!?" Holding up her digivice, showing him the broken tech.

"Oh..." He blinked in surprise, "I... I see..." Before he slowly turned back towards the doors. "The Dark Lord has... Intended to set you free now," He stated grimly, "I suggest you... Walk away now, while you can."

Madison's eyes narrowed sharply, "Set me free? Why? Why now?" She questioned, stepping up to the door. "No, I'm not leaving without Tsu, not without answers!"

He stopped her one final time, placing a hand on the door. "I promise you, if you step through that door, only pain awaits." But when she didn't back down, he sighed heavily. "Don't say I didn't warn you..."

As the great doors were slowly pushed aside, Madison rushed through without another word. Many sharp and cold eyes landing on her in an instant, a great host gathered and watching. Mephistomon had taken center stage, not on his throne but amidst the crowd, his back turned to the door. Madison was too worried to be intimidated by his great height, and came to a halt as all the chattering and voices quieted down.

"What did you do!?" She called up to him, announcing her presence.

"Hmm?" The goat demon digimon turning his head, "Oh? Here already? I hardly had any time to prepare a proper greeting." Openly mocking her clear concern.

"I'm only going to ask you this one more time," Madison clenched her fists tightly around her already broken digivice. "Where is she?!" Raising her voice, in such a way none would dare use against the Dark Lord in this court.

A twinge of anger was clear in his eyes, an indignation one could attribute to his pride being harmed by the way she spoke to him. Showing so little respect, not showing any fear. But in an instant, it was replaced with a cruel amusement, "Why, she's right here..." Before slowly stepping aside.

Madison's eyes widened, as they laid upon a wholly knew digimon that she didn't recognize. No, that wasn't true, she did recognize one part of her. Those piercing red eyes...

This new digimon was humanoid in shape, but stood at least ten feet tall. With a shapely figure bound within a skin-tight leather outfit. Tattered wings adorned her back, and a mask covered the top half of her face. What skin was visible was a pale white, as was the long straight hair rolling down her back. Her left arm was elongated, wrapped in chains and ending in a black claw tipped with blood red nails.

Her expression remained blank, but Madison could see recognition in her eyes. "Tsu? Is... Is that you?" She certainly carried some resemblance of Devidramon, was this an alteration to her form? Was this the demon Mephistmon mentioned before?

"Hmph," She released a sharp scoff, placing her right hand on her hip. "It's LadyDevimon, now." Her voice was cold, it didn't sound like the loveable little rookie she knew at all.

Madison's eyes darted back to Mephistomon, "What is this? What did you do to her?!" She demanded.

But it was LadyDevimon that answered, "He helped me start awakening my true power, remind me who I really am." She said simply, "I'm stronger now than I ever was as Devidramon, but I'm not some screaming, mad beast." She shuddered in disgust at the mere mention of her former form.

"And the best part," Mephistomon chimed in, like a snickering child. "She isn't even finished yet," He explained excitedly, "We still have one more stage, before the Dark Queen Lilithmon is properly revived!"

"Th-This isn't-" Madison was stammering for words, trying to process this all as she looked at her partner. "You're controlling her!" She accused the goat digimon, "Whatever you've done to her I-I'll find a way to stop you!"

A series of chuckles echoed throughout the crowd, while LadyDevimon shook her head. "I'm under no ones control but my own, and I'm more in control of myself now than I've ever been!" She declared.

Madison felt her heart beginning to sink, "You... You can't want this-" She shook her head, "This isn't you!"

"No, this is who I've always been," LadyDevimon scoffed, "I've just learned to accept it, with the help of Mephistomon." A fanged smirk showing on her face.

Madison couldn't believe what she was hearing, a heat building up behind her eyes. "N-No that's not- You and I w-" She pulled out her broken digivice once more, looking at its cracked frame and beginning to realize the truth of the situation.

"Broken? Good." She was standing directly in front of her now, having moved so fast Madison didn't even notice until the shadow was looming over her. "Then our bond is severed, you're not my partner anymore, I have no need of you."

Madison looked up into her eyes, a few tears rolling down her cheeks. "You don't mean that..."

Her face suddenly twisted with malice, angered by her resilience. LadyDevimon raised her smaller arm and smacked the digivice from Madison's hand, "How much more clear can I make it!?" She demanded, before her crimson claw lashed out, crushing the digivice between its clutches in an instant. "Its over! We're through! I'm not your partner anymore!"

Madison stumbled back, watching in horror as she felt the same pressure and terrifying weight in the air that Mephistomon himself seemed to give off. Her eyes darting to the shattered remains of her digivice, just dust and shards of metal scattered on the floor. She tried to find the words to say something, anything, but all she could do was shrink beneath the many judging, amused eyes watching her.

Before Mephistomon began to clap slowly, "Excellent, really, this is even better than I'd imagined, you've truly shattered your bond completely." He said with a hearty laugh, voice reverberating in the massive hall. Before LadyDevimon turned and locked eyes with him, causing his laughter to slowly die down. "Aah, very well... You may remove her yourself, I am done with her."

Madison stiffened upon hearing that, "What?" But before she had a chance to say anything, LadyDevimon grabbed her by the back of her shirt. Taking flight and heading for the main doors, carrying her out of the hall towards a doorway Madison had never been allowed through before. A duo of Musyamon standing guard bowed their heads, allowing them passage out into a large courtyard under moonlight.

LadyDevimon dropped Madison on her butt, before turning around to head back inside. "Now go, leave this place... And never come back."

Madison was still struggling to understand, and was quickly on her feet once more as she wiped her tears. "Tsu-"

"Do NOT call me that!" She turned, slashing that crimson claw through the air between them to stop Madison from coming any closer. "Stop, just... Don't." She shook her head, "Find the others, and go home."

Madison frowned sadly up at her, "I can't just leave you here."

"You can and you will, if you want to live." She replied simply, "It's over, the digivice is destroyed, our bond is broken, you aren't my partner anymore... Nothing will change that now." Before she sighed heavily, "If you return here, Mephistomon will kill you, and I can't stop him."

"Then lets just run!" Madison argued, "Look, you can fly, he's left us alone! We can-"

"Maddie," She scoffed harshly, "I don't have the power to resist him, no one does..." She released a short, almost pained laugh. "It's funny isn't it? Even with these tattered wings, I can't fly away." Before she sighed and shook her head, "I'm staying here, it's better this way."

"Better for who?" Madison asked softly, "Certainly not for you, and I think you know that."

LadyDevimon turned away from Madison, looking back towards the great doors leading back into the palace. "You know Wizardmon, my old friend? I didn't even know him in this life," She stated coldly, "He was just fragments of memories, from one of the last times Mephistomon attempted to revive Lilithmon from inside of me." Before released a short, cruel laugh. "To think I'd get so emotional, over someone I never really knew in this life... I wonder how many others I've destroyed and forgotten?"

Just how many times had Mephistomon done this? How many times had Tsukaimon not turned out the way he wanted, so he had to start over? Was she being destroyed and reborn over and over just to get what he wanted? She didn't even want to think about what kind of horrible trauma Tsukaimon must have gone through, so many times...

"But my friendship with them all was a farce," LadyDevimon continued, tilting her head back and looking at the moon overhead. "Just like our partnership," Driving another knife right into Maddie's heart. "This is what I always was, and will always be, there is no denying that... At least now I'm not causing anyone else trouble."

"You're lying," She shook her head, "To me, to yourself, and to Mephistomon!"

"We've known each other what, a couple of weeks?" LadyDevimon scoffed, not even bothering to look back at Madison anymore. "A blink, in the span of my lives... Just like the others, I'll forget you too, I don't know who chose to partner us together... But they were wrong to think it was going to turn out any other way."

Madison watched her start to walk away, her emotions building as she remembered everything that happened between them. Images flashing in her mind, watching Tsukaimon eat breakfast with her, watching her happily flutter around and play with Shamanmon. Watching her curl up and drift off to sleep while she sang, for the first time to anyone. Her arms wrapped around the poor, traumatized digimon following her forced transformation into Devidramon. That couldn't all be fake, there couldn't be no reason behind it all.

"It was real for me."

LadyDevimon paused in her stride, "What?"

Maddie's hands clenched tightly into fists, "If you really believe that it was all a mistake," A whirlwind of emotion welling up inside of her, "If... If none of it really mattered to you..." Tears forming in her eyes, as she clung onto one final bit of hope she had. "Then turn around and say it!" She demanded, "Turn around, look me in the eyes and TELL ME IT WASN'T REAL!"

The pale skinned digimon remained silent for moment. Her body tensing up briefly, "Listen very carefully, human." Before turning her head sharply, and delivered unto Madison a scathing glare. "It. Meant. Nothing. To me." And continued walking away. "Follow the road east, you'll be allowed safe passage out of the dark lands."

But her partner hardly even heard the last part, still processing the crushing blow delivered to her already fragile heart. There were no words to protest her departure, nothing she could think of or say in that moment. Just an overwhelming, and familiar, feeling crashing down on her shoulders.

Failure.

Without a word, she turned away from Mephistomon's palace, and began to walk. Where? She wasn't sure, all hope she had was shattered in that instant...