. . .

Cody

. . .

In the hidden volcano lab, things had slowed to a crawl. Hardware wasn't the limitation slowing their progress in enhancing their communication abilities, but the software of these machines was hardly able to keep up with their needs. As it stood, they'd hit a wall, and while Thomas continued working tirelessly, earning his Crest of Dedication, the others took a break in a ramshackle mess hall.

Cody winced, watching as this strange dispenser Angela pointed him towards finished spurting a gross greenish ooze into his bowl. His eye twitching as he watched it settle in the dish, "Is this... Really all you have to eat here?"

"Considering your pet emptied out the vending machine, that is correct." She answered simply, eyes never leaving the computer screen she was staring into.

"What even is this slop?" He questioned, reluctantly picking up the bowl to sniff it but finding no scent.

"Everything in this world is Data," She explained casually, "I have simply synthesized the nutrients our bodies require, it lacks taste and smell but it is likely healthier than anything you'll eat in the real world."

Cody sighed shaking his head, "Its this or be hungry I guess..." Before he scooped up some of the goo, it had a consistency like chunky milk. Bracing himself, he closed his eyes and shoveled in the first bite. True to her word, it had no taste at all, which somehow only made it more uncomfortable to eat. "Blech, sheesh no wonder you turned bat shit crazy, eating this stuff for twenty five years..."

"Interesting," Her fingers stopped moving across the keyboard, "Has the way people say 'thank you' changed since I left?"

"Nope," Cody shrugged, "You're just not really someone I consider deserving of thanks, especially not for... Whatever this crap is." He added, setting the bowl aside. "In fact, you still haven't apologized for almost killing us."

"What I was doing was the right course of action at the time," Angela stated, finally turning in her chair to look at him. "Parameters changed."

He narrowed his eyes, "You know they aren't all bad, Digimon I mean."

"Indeed," She replied, rising from her chair and moving to the machine. "They have their uses." Before she started dispensing her own bowl of that sludge.

"That isn't what I meant," Cody scoffed, "They think, they feel, they're alive just like us."

"They are Data."

"Well we're just Cells," He shrugged casually, "Not sure what the difference is at this point, all things considered."

"The difference being that Cells don't evolve into monsters capable of unquantifiable levels of destruction if left unchecked." She replied a bit sharper, "These Digimon are not pets, and they're certainly not meant to exist with humanity." Before she shook her head, "But if you and the others are even half as effective at combating them as you claim to be, perhaps my research will not be necessary."

"Sounds like fear talking to me," Cody argued, "Can't believe your Sam's mom." He scoffed, crossing his arms as he leaned against a wall.

Angela stopped, her eyes focusing on her food for a moment. "You know, she isn't actually my daughter."

Cody blinked, "What? But you said-"

"Biologically speaking," She continued, "Samantha and I aren't really related in any way, she just... Appeared, one day, along with her partner's egg." Lowering her head. "She isn't even a real human, her body is made up of Data like a Digimon."

Cody frowned as he listened, trying to wrap his head around that idea. "How is that possible?"

"It defies all logic, but then again so does everything in this world." She scoffed, shaking her head. "It had been five years since we were pulled here," She went on, her hand starting to clench tighter around her spoon. "Living in terror of the monsters roaming around the land outside our hidden camp... More than a few encounters with them ending in violence, all the while we questioned whether or not we'd ever get home... Get to see our families again."

She looked to Cody finally, the boy tensing up a bit as he nervously rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah uh... Sounds pretty rough." Okay, he wasn't a complete jerk, he could sympathize, but that didn't mean what she's done was justified.

"Hal handled the stress better than I did," Angela continued, "Used it to drive himself forward, he discovered how we could manipulate portions of data in a physical space to alter the world around us, that's how we built our first lab, and how I built this one." She explained, "But, when it started to seem like there really was no way home, and no one coming for us... I considered other ways to get home."

Cody quirked an eyebrow, "What do you mean? What other ways?"

"We knew this world was not ours, everything down to our own bodies was Data," She set her spoon aside, eyes downcast. "I thought perhaps, these weren't our real bodies, just a manifestation of our consciousness, and if we were somehow... Disconnected from this world, we'd wake up in our bodies back home." Cody was starting to understand what she was getting at, his eyes widening. "Hal disagreed, but I couldn't take it... I was going to throw myself from the mountain top, or find some beast to feed myself too... But then-" For the briefest of moments, her lips curled into a small smile. "Then she appeared, practically dropped right into my arms as a baby... She stopped me."

Cody nodded, stuffing his hand into his pocket, "She gave you something to live for."

"She was a convenient distraction, Hal and I pretended to be a family so we could try to raise her in this world." Before Angela sighed, smile fading as she shook her head. "We thought it was a turning point, a sign that someone was watching us, perhaps willing to help us but... Nothing changed," She shrugged, leaning back in her seat. "We're still here, no clear way home..."

The thought they might be stuck here forever had certainly been on Cody's mind, "Yeah well, I ain't giving up any time soon." It was a thought he'd never accept. "Thomas promised we'd all go home, and that kid doesn't know the meaning of the word quit."

"I find that hard to believe, given his obvious intelligence."

Cody blinked, "N-No I meant-"

"That was a joke." She assured, before taking a bite of her sludge. Her expression remaining the same.

"..." Cody sighed and started walking off, "I'm going to find Shamanmon."

. . .

Kai and Samantha

. . .

The waves had passed beneath them at speeds rivaling most commercial air lines. While Maildramon's large head acted as a wind breaker sheltering those riding upon his back. They touched down at the shores of the southern continent, an ashy grey sky overhead and the land itself looking barren.

"This is the place," Darcmon said as she flew down to the ground beside the titanic steed. "The Factory shouldn't be far."

Kai slid down the armored digimon's leg to the ground, stumbling a bit as he landed. "Thanks you for the ride." He said, bowing to Maildramon, Kotemon mimicking the action as well.

The great steel steed nodded its head, a low voice rumbling out from its helm. "You can repay the favor by defeating the evils of this world."

Kai nodded his head, "That's the plan, give my regards to Knightmon."

"Indeed." Before spreading his great wings and taking flight with a mighty gust of wind. Arching high up into the sky before circling back, flying off into the eastern sky.

Sam watched him disappear in the clouds before looking around. "Guess we'd better get walking, factory shouldn't be far, hopefully Thomas is there."

Kai's eyes were already on his Digivice, "I'm still not getting any signals, hopefully its just interference."

"We'll find him for sure!" Kotemon assured, waving his big sleeves around. "Lets go! I can't wait to see Kokuwamon again!"

"Don't run ahead!" Darcmon scolded as Kotemon took off, flying after him. "Do you even know where you're going?"

"A true warrior follows his heart!"

Kai laughed lightly as the chase continued, following at a mild pace beside Sam. "I'd be lying if I said I didn't share his enthusiasm." Before looking to Sam, and noting her trouble expression. "What's wrong?"

She thought for a moment, before responding. "It's Dragomon."

Kai quirked an eyebrow, "What about him?"

"Why hasn't he come after us?" She questioned, "I mean, you mentioned a servant of his attacked the village, meaning he knew where you were but didn't choose to come after you himself." She pointed out, "Why?"

"You think he might be planning something?" Kai had considered the possibility as well, "He could be attempting to recover his own strength as well."

"That's what I'm worried about," Sam nodded, stuffing her hands into her pockets as they went. "We're in his world now... And that's not even including Mephistomon."

Kai looked at his Digivice, watching his Crest flash on the screen. "But we're stronger than before, if he shows his face again we'll beat him, I'm sure of it."

"I wish I shared your confidence..." Sam muttered, staring up into the murky sky. "We threw everything we had at him before, and all it did was slow him down... I'm not sure one Ultimate among us will do it..."

. . .

Madison

. . .

Madison followed the road as instructed by her former partner, the winding path leading her far and away from Mephistomon's prized palace. It wasn't long before she neared a small village of sorts, in the outskirts of his territory. True to their word, his servants did not bother her. Neither the wandering Raremon in the forests or the Vilemon patrolling the skies. She could see a few unused benches alongside the tattered, worn out huts, maybe somewhere she could rest herself?

"Hey!" The shrill voice of a Vilemon sounding as they fluttered above, "Mephistomon said we can't harm you, but that doesn't mean you're allowed to hang around! Get out of here rat!"

And all the fire she had since stoked for days in the palace, had gone out. "Right, sorry..." So she continued on her way, trudging along with aching feet.

She'd been walking for hours, eyes focused solely on the ground as she forced herself forward. Her feet were sore, and this knot in her stomach made her want to throw up. But with every step she took, it was getting easier to ignore it.

To bury it.

To become numb again.

The path ahead lead her into the forest once more, closer and closer to the border where she would leave this place and her partner behind for good.

"Psst!" The low hiss, it drew her eyes towards the bushes along the road. "Hey, over here." Madison took a step closer, unsure what this was supposed to be exactly. Before she saw a familiar pair of long ears sticking out through the foliage, followed by his face! "I knew it had to be you, come on!"

"G-Gazimon?" She muttered, blinking in surprise. Before yelping when he grabbed her by the arm and pulled her from the path. "What are you doing? Where are you taking me?" She wasn't sure if it was really the one she'd known from the palace, until she spotted those twin tails trailing behind him.

"Somewhere we can talk privately!" He assured, leading her along until they came to a small riverbank. The road was elevated alongside it, hiding their position beneath the brush and dense trees. "There's a small cave here," He explained, leading her towards it.

"Gazimon, what happened?" She questioned confused.

He simply shrugged, "I don't know, one minute I thought we were both about to die and then suddenly I was out in the middle of the forest." He explained, "I've given up trying to understand why..."

Once they were inside, he ushered her to a space beside a small smoldering firepit. She slumped down onto the ground, leaning against the cave wall as he prodded at the embers trying to bring them back to life. "But what about you? How did you escape?"

"I... I didn't," She answered dryly, "They let me go."

Causing him to tense up, "Mephistomon just... Let you go?" Before remembering, "Wait, what about your partner?"

"She's... Not my partner anymore," Madison answered, that knot in her stomach returning. "She's not my Tsukaimon anymore..." Her hands starting to grip her knees tighter.

Gazimon swallowed nervously, "Oh... B-But you haven't... Given up on her right? You kept saying-"

"It doesn't matter what I said," She cut him off, starting to feel a new wave crashing down on her shoulders. "I failed... I couldn't save her, all I could do was sit there and wait." She shook her head, tears starting to well up and roll down her cheeks. "I'm pathetic... I promised that I'd keep her safe and I couldn't even-" Her words starting to get cut off by her sobs, as she tucked her knees to her chest and buried her face, crying against them.

Gazimon hesitated, unsure what to do. His experience with humans was lacking, and his experience comforting someone was basically non-existent. "H-Hey now..." Reaching out with one paw, gently patting her on the shoulder. "I-It'll uh... Be okay?"

"I thought if I just cared for her, I could save her from being what he wanted," She lamented, voice slightly muffled. "I wanted to be there for her, I wanted to be her hero... But I couldn't protect her, I can't save her." Her sobs slowing down, even as the tears kept flowing. Thinking about those grandstanding ideals she'd thrown at Myotismon, how ignorant she was. "I can't save anyone..."

Gazimon frowned sadly, still unsure what he could do as his ears drooped. Truthfully, he had nothing to offer her that might make this better. But still, he carefully sat down beside her, twiddling his thumbs. "Well, I'm not sure what it's really worth but... You saved me."

Her breathing hitched, and Madison slowly lifted her head. "What?"

"Not just from Myotismon," He continued, nervously looking away. "You were nice to me, I kind of forgot how good that feels... Living under Mephistomon for so long, it made me jaded and paranoid." Gazimon explained.

But Madison wasn't done wallowing just yet, "All I did was share some food..."

To which he shrugged, "Yeah, and that was enough." Before he pushed himself up, walking around the fire. Thinking quietly for a moment to himself, considering what she'd told him. "I know you're in pain, but I don't think you've lost your partner yet."

Madison blinked in surprise, "What do you mean?"

"Look, I've lived under Mephistomon for a long time," He stated, "And let me tell you, there is no way he'd just let you walk away unless he didn't have a choice." Causing Maddie's eyes to widen. "I bet... I bet your partner had to bargain! Give herself up to him to buy your freedom!"

Madison wanted to slap herself, wondering how she could have been so stupid. "That's right... He told me right from the start that he only kept me around to make her behave!" She remembered, looking down at her hands as they began clenching into fists. "She must have known that if she gave in, he'd get rid of me anyways... So she held on for as long as she could, then maybe bargained to get me out of there..."

"Right!" Gazimon nodded, "S-So maybe you can still save her! If you can get her away from Mephistomon."

Even knowing the truth, it didn't make her feel like any less of a failure. "I can't... I'm not strong, and my friends are-" Her words hitching for a moment, "I don't even know where they are."

"Th-Then we'll just have to find them." Gazimon replied, wanting to help her for what she did for him. Even if it might be dangerous, "So uh... Lets get looking?"

Madison appreciated his intentions, but they still needed tangible direction. "Where would we even start-" Before the flame between them sparked up brighter, startling both human and digimon. A small pink wisp arose from the flames, flitting around between them. Madison looked to the digimon across from her, "D-Did you-"

Gazimon simply shook his head and shrugged, "This ain't me."

Before the wisp fluttered closer to Madison, twinkling a little brighter, before floating towards the exit. The young girl wasn't quite sure what was happening, but- "I think... It wants us to follow it." Rising to her feet, chasing after this one tiny shred of hope that somebody was watching over her.

Gazimon swallowed nervously, "Right, sure... Lets just follow the sparkles to who knows where..." Despite his complaining, he did in fact follow along beside her.

As they wandered off into the dark forest...

. . .

Thomas and Cody

. . .

Thomas was staring at the same screen he had been for what felt like hours. Forgoing breaks as he continued analyzing the data and trying to find a way through this interference in the Digital World. Sure enough, power wasn't the issue here, but finding a way through the storm of information constantly flowing throughout this world was making it hell to get anything further than-

"Huh?" Thomas blinked, eyes darting to a small ping that showed up on a side screen. Two little red dots, at the very edge of the southern continent. His eyes slowly widening as his entire thought process came to a halt.

"Yo!" Cody's voice sounded from the edge of the room, "The food here sucks, how about we hop on Gigadramon and see if anyone else around here has got something better?" Before he noticed Thomas' eyes glued to one small screen. "Uh... You okay over there bud?"

Thomas turned towards him slowly, pointing to the pings on the screen as a grin spread across his face. "It looks like we might be finding the others sooner than I thought."

Cody caught on quickly to what he was saying, eyes widening. "They're here? The others are here!?"

"Well, about twenty miles away," Thomas shrugged, "But yeah!" Jumping up from his seat, "They just arrive it looks like."

"Well what are we standing around here for!?" Cody scoffed, looking around for their partners, "Lets get down there!"

"You read my mind."

. . .

Kai and Samantha

. . .

Kai and Samantha stood before the outskirts of great ruined structure. It was all industrial, most of it completely in shambles, but there were some signs of rebuilding. Recent construction, and signs of inhabitants. But no actual digimon in sight.

"Where is everyone?" Kai questioned, as they approached the shambled fence surrounding this place. "I thought you said this was the hub for machine digimon."

"It is, or perhaps it was." Darcmon replied, "Something must have happened here."

The group made their way inside, passing by much destroyed machinery and some ramshackle hovels made of scrap. As they continued on, Kotemon gripped the hilt of his kendo stick. "Something is off here... I feel like we're being watched."

"Oh good," Sam replied, "I thought it was just me..."

"Could Thomas and Kokuwamon have had something to do with this?" Kai questioned, eyes scanning their surroundings.

"T-Thomas!?" A shrill voice sounded, the group turning to see no less than a dozen small metal heads poking out from behind cover. The one speaking had a glass case over mechanical bits inside, with long arms. "Y-You know Thomas? And his partner?" The other machine digimon remained hesitant, hiding back and watching them all suspiciously.

"That's right," Samantha nodded, "He's a friend of ours, we got separated and are trying to find him."

The digimon breathed a sigh of relief before looking back at the others, "Everyone its okay! They're friends of Thomas!" All throughout the courtyard, dozens of small machine digimon ranging from more Kokuwamon to hovering gear shaped digimon started to emerge. Still watching them warily, but no longer too scared to be seen. "I'm Datamon, Thomas and his partner saved us all, any friends of his are friends of ours."

Kotemon blinked as he looked around at the ruined factory, "If this is how he saves people I'd hate to see what he does to enemies..."

Kai laughed nervously, "Don't mind him, can you tell us where Thomas went?"

It was another Kokuwamon that spoke up, "After saving us all from Andromon's enslavement, they flew up to the volcano's peak to deal with that monster Lavogaritamon."

Sam sweatdropped, "Well sounds like he's kept himself busy."

"But that was days ago," A Hagurumon chimed in, "You could see the explosions from here, there's no way they're alive!"

Datamon sighed, slouching his shoulders. "We haven't seen Thomas or Lavogaritamon since the day he left here... But if you're searching for them your best bet would be t-"

"Everyone! LOOK!" Cried the voice of a Guardromon, pointing up into the cloudy skies. "From the mountain!"

They all looked to the skies, Kai's eyes widening as he spotted the massive form of some king of metal winged dragon. With large mechanical gauntlets, purple skin, casting a great shadow over the land as it flew towards them! Was this Lavogaritamon? It certainly looked like a villainous sort. He instinctively pulled out his digivice and looked to Kotemon, "Alright looks like we've got a fight on our hands."

Kotemon nodded, "Yeah, time to see what Grademon can do!"

"They're back!" A cry suddenly sounded, as cheers roared across the ruined factory, metal digimon rushing out towards the field outside to greet them as the massive form of Gigadramon made landfall.

Sam and Kai sharing a confused look before following them out as well, standing at the back of the crowd, watching as not only Thomas but Cody and Shamanmon climbed down from the giant cyborg dragons arm. Datamon was first to greet them, before quickly turning and pointing towards Kai and Samantha. The four of them locked eyes, a great sense of relief washing over each and every one of them.

The crowd of machine digimon parted ways giving them a clear path to one another, Kotemon blasting forward to meet Shamanmon. The two clasping arms excitedly, "We found you!" The little armored digimon cried out.

"Found us?" Shamanmon repeated, "No we found you!"

"Doesn't really matter dude," Cody chuckled, before cringing a little bit and gripping his broken arm. "Crap, well its nice to see I'm the only one that got his ass beat in this crazy world."

Sam placed a hand on her hip, "Yeah uh, how did that happen exactly? You pick a fight with a Monochromon or something?"

"First off," Cody held up his good hand, "Monochromon was a super cool guy who showed us around, second-" He thought about that stupid tribe and Kinkakumon, "Eh, its not important."

Of course, Thomas was not going to let it slide. "We both got captured, our Digimon were too injured to fight, so he participated in a pit fight against a bunch of Goblinmon and Ogremon to win over their crazy chieftain lady Kinkakumon to let us go, somehow it worked."

Cody's face turned deep red, "Oh COME ON!"

"And now she has the hots for him," He added without hesitation, "Weird stuff."

"And you can walk again," Kai pointed out, crossing his arms. "Care to explain that?"

Thomas shrugged, "I would if I could, say did either of you unlock a Crest?" He asked, looking between them.

Kai nodded, "I did, Samantha's situation is... Complicated," He added, sure that she would rather explain it herself. "But more importantly, have either of you seen Madison or Tsukaimon?"

Both Cody and Thomas looked at one another, before shaking their heads. "We were kinda hoping... You'd have run across her." Cody replied, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Then she's still on the western continent," Samantha sighed, "Dammit, alright we need to get moving she could be in serious danger."

"What?" Cody questioned, "What do you mean? How do you know that?"

"Think about it," Kai chimed in, "Each of us ended up where our Digimon came from, and we all can assume Tsukaimon came from a bad place if Devimon was any indication."

Thomas nodded, his hands shaking a little as he gripped them tightly into fists, "We aren't done yet, we've gotta keep moving." Before he looked to Sam, and remembering- "Oh, we found your Mom by the way."

Causing Samantha to nearby stumble back, Darcmon's eyes also darting to Thomas. "What?"

"Yeah, crazy chic is living in that volcano doing even crazier experiments." Cody explained, "Wanna say hi before we leave?"

Kai blinked in surprise, "Do we have time for that?"

Sam and Darcmon looked to one another, before their eyes darted towards the Volcano in the distance. "Well... We'll be going that way anyways." Darcmon noted.

Sam sighed and lowered her head, "Okay fine, we'll stop for like... Five minutes."

. . .

Madison

. . .

The walk lasted for what felt like hours, as the little wisp of light lead Madison and Gazimon far and away across the dark lands. Somehow, they managed to evade Mephistomon's forces throughout the land entirely, like the wisp knew where they were. They traveled deep into a forest, dense wood surrounding them in a way that almost seemed to choke out the light from above the canopy. Before finally, mercifully, they breached the wall of timber. Entering into some kind of clearing, a small undisturbed pool of water resting in the center beside a small house.

The little pink wisp flitted towards the door, flashing a few times before disappearing before their eyes. Gazimon blinking at this display, "Well, I guess this is the place."

"Right..." Madison shifted nervously, looking towards the door. It was quite large, nearly ten feet in height and wider than average. But the house itself seemed rather simple, like a small wooden cottage. She slowly made her way to the entrance, reaching for one of the handles and giving it a twist. To her surprise, the door seemed quite light to push, and as it opened she was met with a wall of warmth.

Inside was a cozy home, a crackling fire with various candles lit around the room. A smell in the air like burning incense, walls lined with various books. And seated at a table, now staring back at her with big yellow eyes, was a digimon.

Gender was impossible to identify beneath the robes, and aside from eyes this hooded digimon had no face only a blank black void. Wearing a pale yellow hood that rolled over it's shoulders, a red robe covering it's body. Madison could make out two small wings on its back as well. "H-Hello there." She greeted it with a nervous wave.

The Digimon blinked in surprise, before setting aside the book it had been reading and standing up. Revealing that it's build was very human, though certainly on the tall side at nearly nine feet in height.

Gazimon jumped between this digimon and the human, "Hey easy bub! No sudden movements!"

"Madison Morales," The voice was soft and calm, but undoubtedly male. "The open heart... And you come without a Digivice, I see... Then things are progressing faster than I anticipated."

Causing Gazimon to blink, "Uh you know this guy?"

"Nope." How did he know she didn't have it? And more importantly- "How do you know my name?" She questioned, "Who are you?"

"A keeper of knowledge, and protector of a... Once sacred place, before Mephistomon appeared." He explained, reaching over and grabbing a small kettle from beside the fire with one long arm. "You may call me Wisemon, would either of you like some tea?"

"Uh... Sure?" Madison slowly approached the digimon, "But that doesn't answer my question, how do you know me?"

Gazimon huffing as he crossed his arms, "I guess I'll just stand over here and be not important."

"Your time will come Gazimon," He replied simply, his eye fixated on the small cup as he poured Madison a small glass, "As for you, I have watched your world for quite some time." He explained casually. "From my former home, I could see into many worlds through my occulory." Before he released a short, friendly laugh. "You and your friends are certainly amazing."

Madison accepted the tea, giving it a second to cool before she took a sip. Surprised to find it was delicious! But she couldn't let good tea distract her, "Are you the one that chose us? Who sent us our Digimon?"

"No, that was not me," Wisemon answered, "Though, I was to aid the one that did choose you."

"So why were we chosen?" Madison questioned, trying to understand all of this.

Wisemon took a sip of his own tea, it disappeared into some unseen mouth on his face, before lowering his head slightly. "That is... Not easy to explain." He slowly rose from his seat, and set his cup aside. "Please follow me." Making his way towards the fireplace, before he waved a hand through the air causing the wall itself to warp and shift, opening a passage that seemed to go underground. "Let me show you."

Gazimon sighed as the doorway opened, "Of course, secret door... You two go ahead I'll just sit here and... Enjoy some tea."

Madison chuckled lightly, "Right, you relax you've done enough." She assured, before taking another slow sip of her tea, savoring it like it might be her last chance before nodding. Setting her drink aside, "Let's go." Following behind him as he entered the passage. "I've come this far after all."

"Yes you have, and for that I am very grateful." He said in a bit more enthusiastic tone.

The passage was unlit but Wisemon held up one hand, forming a ball of light that gave them all they required to see. They traveled down what might have been two or three stories underground before the passage opened up into a large chamber. The sound of running water could be heard, and as Wisemon's light expanded to fill the chamber Madison could see water coming down from the ceiling. But rather than falling like it should it, the water ran down the walls in peculiar patterns before emptying into a basin surrounding a large stone slab in the center.

Atop this slab, was an enormous golden book.

Wisemon waved for her to follow, stepping right off the edge before tiles of light appeared beneath his feet forming a small bridge to the slab. Madison hesitated for a moment, testing the strength of the tile before stepping forward as well, following him to the center.

"What is this place?" She questioned, looking around the cavern before her eyes landed on the open book, seeing its many strange symbols.

"My only remaining sanctuary, thanks to Mephistomon." He sighed softly, hovering off his feet before gently floating over the book itself. "This book is a part of me, and it allows me to see things others cannot..." He closed his eyes, holding up both hands as swirling orbs appeared in each palm, hovering just over his hands they almost looked like tiny planets. "I was once the keeper of a sacred place, it existed deep beneath what is now Mephistomon's palace."

Madison blinked in surprise, "That palace couldn't have just sprung up overnight," She noted, "How long ago was that?"

"Many years, unfortunately." He replied simply, before continuing. "Mephistomon came to this lower sphere from another, where the forces of darkness had suffered a crippling defeat at the hands of higher powers, but even in defeat Mephistomon plotted revenge on them all, and even in his weakened state I-" Wisemon hesitated, shaking his head. "I was unable to stop him, and retreated to my sanctum, leaving behind many who relied on me to protect them... But I couldn't let him corrupt that place, or it could erode the very sanity of the digital world."

"The sanity?" Madison repeated confused, "What do you mean by that?"

The orbs began to glow, symbols began to float around her after rising from the book. She saw a set of three triangles intersecting, a heart wreathed in flames, and a four pointed star with a small diamond in between each of its arms. They each glowed different colors, as they hovered around her, Madison felt a strange sensation in her chest.

"These are three of the four crests that reside in this sphere." Wisemon explained, "Each and every one awakened by the human and digimon destined to carry it."

In a flash, images began to appear around the crests. Madison gasped, as if she were watching some kind of holograms. She could see Kai carrying a sword, as he charged into battle beside Yasyamon. And then Cody, surrounded by digimon that looked kind of like Shamanmon, fighting with bloody knuckles and fire in his eyes. Finally there was the images of Thomas, sitting inside Mekanorimon's control seat, and battling some humanoid machine digimon.

"E-Everyone..." She muttered, "Is this all happening right now?" Unable to look away as she saw their partners one by one enveloped in these lights.

"No," Wisemon shook his head. "These are things that have already come to pass, each of them has awakened their Crest, and survived great peril, but they are alive and searching for you."

Madison felt a great weight lift off her chest as he said that, releasing a shaky breath and closing her eyes. "I'm... I'm glad they're okay."

"As am I," Wisemon nodded, "As I was saying, there are Four Crests that reside within this sphere, and their existence keeps balance in the world between light and dark." He continued, "Mephistomon disrupted that balance by corrupting the fourth Crest, your Crest."

Madison opened her eyes and looked back at him, "My crest?"

"I thought if I held my ground, used my most powerful wardings to keep out Mephistomon, it would be safe." Wisemon added, before shaking his head. "I was a fool, Mephistomon outsmarted me while I hid underground and instead sowed the seeds of his corruption, I realized too late he had already started targeting the digimon destined to carry this crest."

Madison frowned sadly, "You mean Tsukaimon..."

To which he nodded, "Indeed, when I realized what he was doing to that poor creature, I made preparations and abandoned my post... I stole her away while his guard was down, and the moment I had her in my possession I sent her to you, and sent word to my friend to do the same with the others."

"And while you were gone, Mephistomon was able to corrupt the Crest." Madison surmised.

"Correct," Wisemon lowered his head, as the images around Madison began to rewind. Showing Knightmon attacking Kotemon and Kai, "As the Crest became corrupted, digimon that were once good or even docile started to behave strangely," Andromon overseeing as badly damaged machine digimon were fed into the pit. "Acting on their fears, taking to extremes and causing undo suffering on those around them as if they no longer cared." The Goblimon fighting pits, where Rookie Digimon were being beaten by gangs of bullies.

Madison understood, with the corruption of a crest it was like this entire part of the digital world was being corrupted. "So... How do we fix this?"

"You and your partner must awaken your crest," Wisemon explained simply, "And burn away this darkness."

To which Madison released a defeated scoff, "I don't know if that's even possible... My Digivice was destroyed, and Mephistomon made her digivolve into something else." She shook her head, "I know she's still in there but... How can we awaken a Crest as we are now?"

"You know as well as I do, that Tsukaimon isn't lost yet, don't you?" Wisemon questioned, his tone returning to a more friendly one. "You've never given up on her, even if she thinks herself lost... You can bring her back."

Madison nodded slowly, eyes drifting down to the book. "I... I want to try, but I can't do it alone."

Wisemon's eyes perked up a bit at her response as if he were smiling. "You won't be, they will be coming this way soon, I'll send you to them once they arrive." He assured, "But first I'd recommend rest, you must be prepared for the trial ahead."

It seemed too good to be true, but her hopes were high that she might be able to do this. That she might really be able to save her this time, because she wouldn't be alone.

But to his request, Madison shook her head, "No, actually I've got something I need to finish... I'm gonna need to borrow some stuff, if you don't mind."

Wisemon blinked, before nodding. "Go right ahead."

"Thanks!" She turned on her heels and started racing for the stairs.

The scholarly digimon watched her go, before sighing and lowering his head. "And now, we stake all our hopes on them..."

As the images of the future shown in the pages slowly, chillingly, became darker and darker.

. . .

Sam

. . .

"You were doing WHAT!?"

"Collecting data."

"MURDERING other Digimon!"

Evidently, stopping so Samantha could catch up with her "mother" was maybe not the best idea. Since explaining what she had focused her efforts into in her daughters absence, the ebony youth was absolutely livid. Cody, Thomas and Kai left standing with their partners waiting out in the hall while the hyper aggressive reunion continued.

"This is unacceptable," Darcmon scoffed, shaking her head. "I can't believe you'd treat other digimon like this."

"Why?" Angela questioned, looking to Darcmon. "Because of you?" She scoffed, "You may have accompanied Samantha into this world, but you're not-"

"Stop!" Sam cut her off sharply, "Don't you dare say it."

Her mother quirked an eyebrow, "Say what? That she isn't my daughter?"

Sam's hands clenched tightly into fists, and to anyone watching it looked like she might just attack her mother. But before things could escalate, Darcmon placed a hand on her shoulder. "This is a waste of time," She said simply, shaking her head. "We need to help Madison."

Sam looked back at her for a moment, questioning her apparent lack of reaction to the terrible things Angela said. "But-" Catching herself, before she sighed and nodded, "You're right," Shooting her mother a sharp glance. "She is a waste of time, lets get going."

"And where exactly are you going?" Angela questioned as they began walking away.

"Far from here!" Sam barked back, still fuming.

"To the Western Continent to save our friend." Darcmon replied simply, not looking back at her.

"The west?" Angela quirked an eyebrow, "I'd advise against that."

"Didn't ask."

"There are high concentrations of data mass there," She continued, "Suggesting several powerful digimon."

"Well we'll handle it," Sam said sharply, glaring back at her. "With Darcmon, like I always do." Before they continued out the door, walking past the others in waiting. Who were all pretending they couldn't hear every word of that discussion. "What are you standing around for? Lets GO!"

All of them straightening up, following behind her and Darcmon as they began heading for the exit. "Y-Yes ma'am!"