"I don't get any of this," new Digidestined Austin Aries declares as he holds onto his digiegg. "So what, I'm supposed to go with you all to this other world, fight evil creatures, and save both earth and it?" He scoffs. "When am I supposed to wake up again? Because this is clearly one very vivid, very annoying attack of my subconscious."

"I wish," Cass exhales as Enzo hovers near him, chattering and making motions with his hands and doing all of the usual hyper, anxious Zo things until Cass lays a hand over both of his, stilling him in a way that only Cass can manage. "But nope, this is real life. As real as it can get."

Aries seems unimpressed at this, looking around at the others. "How long has this been going on?" he demands. "And none of us figured it out?"

"Been a few years by now," Mike says. "Three, I think." He exhales gustily. "You should've seen the early days, Punk was supposed to be our leader but when he left WWE, Luke had to scramble and his partner was left to fend for itself, turned evil and nearly destroyed everyone. That was a lot of fun."

Austin shakes his head. "Why do I always get trapped in the weird shit?"

"Well, it's not like you're alone in that," Seth tells him simply. "Lots of us have been dealing with this for years by now, and we just suck it up and do the best we can, because that's really all we can do. Raw AND Smackdown guys. So it'd be nice if you could pick up the slack and help out while we all adjust to this post-superstar shakeup weirdness, but if not, whatever. We've survived this long without you, we can survive awhile longer."

Aries sneers at him, looks like he's about to say something that will further along the tension, but then there's a flash of light and the digiegg he's holding onto gives a violent shake. "What- what's happening?" he demands, blue eyes so wide and focused.

"I think it's hatching," Betamon offers cheerfully, the group of them holding their breath and watching as sure enough, the shell finishes cracking apart and, once the glow of new digital life subsides, all they can do is stare at the white creature with two ear-like things poking out of its forehead as it peers around at them all.

"Pi- pitch, pit..." it intones anxiously, trembling in Austin's palm as he gapes at his partner.

Something comes over him and he softens almost immediately, stroking the little guy like it's a pet cat that he's finally gotten to interact with after too long. "Well, hello there. I guess I'm you're digidestined partner," he says in a voice so quiet and soft that the others wouldn't believe it was him if they didn't see his mouth moving in time with the words.

Seth smirks at Enzo and Cass, the three of them relieved that, so far at least, one of the new digidestined looks like they'll be alright in the long run.