As they walked alongside a river, Gomamon swimming beside them, Mikey was having fun, Patamon on his head.
"That was cool how you got bigger and everything!" He stated.
"Mikey, can ya be serious for once?" Raph asked gruffly, Gabumon walking beside him.
"What's there to be serious about?"
Before Raph could smack the younger turtle upside the head, someone else did.
"We're lost in a world that's NOT ours, with no sign of human life. Serious enough for ya?" Rach asked.
"I'm just being optimistic, Rach. I'm sure everything will be fine!"
Elisa nodded.
"We'll get back…right, Gio?"
Gio sighed.
"I'm not sure, El. We might, but we could be here for a while."
Don sighed.
"I'm sure we can find some way…"
"Yeah, Ms. Sunshine is SURE everything will be fine…" Rach growled.
"Don't give me an attitude, Rach." Gio shot back, darkening slightly.
"What? You expect us to find human life and go home? We're TURTLES for crying out loud!"
"YOU'RE the pessimist, not ME!!"
They were getting dangerously close, and Palmon moved in between them before Elisa did the same.
"G-Guys!!"
The two stopped, looking at the youngest female turtle.
"We sh-shouldn't be f-fighting! We sh-should be tr-trying to get home!"
The two girls nodded, defeated, and both their partners relaxed.
"How is it that the youngest is the peacemaker?"
"…Don't make me hit ya, tough guy."
Now Gabumon stood between the two, and even Gomamon came out of the water to stand in front of his partner.
"HEY!!!"
Everyone's heads snapped to Patamon, meeting Mikey's disappointed blue eyes.
"Why are we even fighting? We'll get home eventually, so why not enjoy the time we have HERE while we can? It's not like we can walk around in the open back home, anyway."
They all nodded, and Rach backed down, allowing both Digimon to relax.
"So I guess this is kind of a good thing, huh?"
Mikey nodded, happy someone agreed with him.
Gomamon jumped onto Rach's head, saying, "I think we're close to the ocean. The river water started tasting salty."
They all nodded, and Mikey started running.
"I've always wanted to go to the beach!"
They all followed him, at least a little excited to go to the beach, when Gio stopped.
"What is it, Gio?" Leo asked, stopping as well.
"I think I hear ringing…like a payphone…"
Everyone followed Gio as she located the source of the noise: Eight telephone booths, lined up in a row, all ringing.
When they got closer, the ringing stopped, and they all shared a confused glance before Mikey went up to one.
"Maybe we can call Master Splinter!"
Gio brightened.
"Or Mistress Michiyo!"
They all ran to a booth, dialing their numbers ecstatically, but someone else always picked up, saying something strange.
"…Either sensei's lost her mind, or these payphones don't work." Rach concluded, slamming the phone back into place.
They sat down on the sand, and Mikey started making a sandcastle as Don tried to turn on Elisa's laptop.
"I wonder why it's not working…everything seems fine…"
"Maybe it's not the laptop…" Elisa answered softly, looking thoughtfully at the strange forest behind them and the sparkling ocean before them.
Rach looked down the beach, her gaze occasionally drifting to Gomamon, who was floating peacefully in the water.
Gio was on her shell, looking at the sky with her partner, sometimes pointing out certain clouds that made familiar shapes.
Leo leaned against the cliff, looking around, alert and wary, as Agumon sat beside him.
Raph was just as tense, sitting on the warm sand as he looked at the horizon, Gabumon sitting silently beside him.
Patamon, helping build a wall around the sandcastle, stopped, a rumbling sound catching Mikey's attention.
"You're hungry, too?"
Patamon nodded sheepishly.
"Guys, we're hungry!"
As if on cue, twelve stomachs growled in response.
"I say we eat…" Leo answered.
Agumon nodded as they set out to find some food.
They grouped back up only half an hour later, but not much food rewarded their search.
"There's not enough for all of us…" Don noted, calculating.
"No need to add us into your calculations." Tentomon assured.
"We can hunt and forage for ourselves." Gabumon added.
"Are you sure?" Elisa asked her Digimon partner.
"We'll be fine!"
They heard eating sounds, and turned to see Agumon eating a watermelon.
"What are ya doin'?" Rach asked dangerously.
"Eating."
A vein pulsed in her forehead, but Gomamon held her back. Leo sighed, about to stop his partner when all the Digimon froze, looking wary.
"Agumon?"
"It's Shellmon…"
A blast of water from under the sand made everyone jump, and they sat, frozen, as it shot all of the telephone booths into the air, making them crash to the sand.
A shell drilled up, showing a huge pink Digimon, and everyone scrambled to their feet.
"Blue Blaster!"
A confused expression crossed Gabumon's face as the attack didn't work, and he was smacked away by a large hand.
"Spiral Twister!"
"Super Shocker!"
"Poison Ivy!"
Nothing happened, and all three were blasted away by a stream of water from Shellmon's head.
"Boom Bubble!"
Patamon deflated, no attack forthcoming, and the small Digimon was hit away by a strange green tentacle, flying into Gomamon, who had come out of the water.
Agumon ran forward.
"Pepper Breath!"
The small ball of fire smacked Shellmon in the face.
"Why can't they fight?" Raph growled, already at Gabumon's side.
Gio shrugged, holding Palmon on her lap as Elisa held Biyomon comfortably.
Rach reached for Gomamon, her hand brushing Mikey's as he reached for Patamon. The cutest blush spread across his cheeks, and she couldn't help her own.
'He looks cute…'
She shook the thought away, picking up Gomamon before turning to Elisa and Don.
"Why are they so weak?"
"They didn't eat anything…"
Don's eyes lit up in understanding.
"Elisa's right! Agumon's the only one that ate anything! These guys are too weak without food!"
"Then Agumon's the only one that can fight…" Leo concluded, looking at his partner.
Another Pepper Breath slapped Shellmon across the face, and Leo instinctively moved forward when the large Digimon threatened to retaliate.
"Leave him alone!"
He grabbed a metal stick from the wreckage of booths, and, wielding it like a sword, smacked the large Digimon's shell.
"Leo!!"
Gio nearly went to stop him, when Shellmon picked up the blue-banded turtle with a strange green tentacle, lifting him into the air.
"Agumon!"
It was obvious he was being crushed, and Agumon ran towards him. Shellmon caught the Digimon under his hand, still crushing Leo.
"A-Agumon!!"
"LEO!!!!"
A bright white light, and then…
"Agumon, Digivolve to…GREYMON!!"
Shellmon flew back, releasing Leo, who fell safely to the sand below. A memory tried to force its way into his head, but all he saw was a dark New York City and a shadowed creature before it disappeared.
The two Digimon charged, smashing into each other like boulders. Greymon flung Shellmon into the air, revealing the others unguarded belly.
"Nova Blast!"
The large blast of fire made Shellmon shoot towards the ocean, entering with a mighty splash.
Leo looked at his partner in amazement when said Digimon Dedigivolved back to Agumon.
"Agumon!"
He went to the Digimon's side quickly.
"You okay, buddy?"
"Yeah…can we eat now?"
This time around, the Digimon ate their fill, looking content.
"We'd better move away from the water. Shellmon could come back for a rematch." Gio advised.
"I agree with her on this one." Rach stated, Gomamon comfortable on her head once more.
They walked into another forest, and didn't conceive stopping until they saw the strangely colorful sunset.
"We should find a place to sleep…Tentomon, would you mind looking around?"
"I don't mind, Donatello."
And the bug Digimon flew into the air, going above the trees. They waited a few minutes, and he flew back down, saying he'd seen a lake up ahead, with plenty of food surrounding it.
They headed for it, and were soon standing on its bank.
"…Is that a trolley car?"
Everyone followed Raph's gaze, and saw the trolley car, sitting on its own platform of land, a strip connecting it to the shore. Mikey was the first to run to it, but it didn't mean the others didn't follow.
"It's so clean…" Elisa stated softly, looking around in the interior.
"That's not possible…unless it wasn't used…" Don muttered, looking around as well.
"I say we sleep here!" Mikey stated, and Rach nodded her agreement.
With that settled, everyone headed out to get food. Don and Mikey tried fishing, and it was actually going rather well.
"How are we supposed to light this?" Raph asked, looking at the sticks and stones they'd used.
Leo shrugged, and Agumon stepped forward.
"Like this! Pepper Breath!"
Gio, watching slightly from nearby, giggled softly, returning to looking for fallen fruit and nuts.
A mushroom caught her eye, and was about to pick it when Palmon stopped her.
"Don't pick those! They'll make you sick!"
Gio pulled her hand back, and smiled gratefully at the plant Digimon.
"Thanks, Palmon! You're a lifesaver!"
Further in the forest, some of the Digimon were looking for fruit as well.
"Look, bananas!"
Gomamon looked up at them, and Patamon landed on his back.
"I'll get it! Boom Bubble!"
The bananas fell…right on Gabumon's head…
Patamon pried them off his horn, and smiled apologetically.
Biyomon giggled, and flew off to join Elisa as she tried to reach some fruit.
Biyomon simply flew up, plucking them from the tree before flying down and handing them to her human partner.
"Thanks, Biyo."
Elisa smiled sweetly.
"We'd better get back to the others."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
They'd all eaten their fill of the delicious food they'd foraged, and were sitting contently around the fire at the moment.
"Okay, who's gonna keep watch?" Gio asked, too content to think of anything but sleep.
Rach sighed, leaning back slightly.
"I'm too tired…"
"I could do it…" Elisa interjected softly.
"No, El. YOU'RE not keeping watch."
Elisa shrugged, probably expecting the answer, but disappointment and hurt flashed through her pink eyes.
"I'll do it!" Mikey volunteered enthusiastically, Patamon still chewing on some watermelon on his lap.
"NO!!!!!!"
The three girls jumped as Leo and Raph banded together to stop from keeping Mikey awake any longer than needed.
Don just shook his head, a little embarrassed by his brothers, and wished Cat was there.
She'd have been able to stop the mayhem.
"I wonder how Kitty's doing…"
The three other male turtles stopped to think, and the girls felt a depressed air fall over them.
"I'm sure she's doin' fine…" Raph answered gruffly, looking at the ground.
"She's probably worried sick…" Leo stated, his gaze drifting.
"…She won't stop looking…right?"
Don comforted his youngest brother, saying, "I'm sure she won't. Who knows, maybe she'll find us!"
"Who is she, anyway?" Rach asked, curiosity in her eyes.
"She's our sister, Caterina. We call her Kitty because she's like one…" Don's voice faded away at the end, and Gio smiled reassuringly.
"I'm sure she's fine. Felines always land on their feet, right?"
Mikey giggled a little.
"Then you don't know Kitty…"
Leo sighed, looking at his brothers, and said, "I'll have first watch…you guys just go to sleep."
They were some mumbled good nights, and everyone headed to the trolley car.
Mikey dragged himself onto a seat, and curled up contently, hugging Patamon to his chest.
Rach shared the seat, but stayed upright, sitting Indian style with Gomamon on her lap.
Elisa laid down on her shell, and Biyomon was on the young turtle's stomach, hugging her sleepily.
Gio had her youngest sister's head on her lap, with Palmon leaning on her other side.
Raph sat on another seat, Gabumon leaning on him slightly, as Don slept across from him, curled up on his side, hugging a sleeping Tentomon.
Rach was having difficulty falling asleep, when she felt the cushion shaking under her. She opened her eyes softly, and looked down at Mikey, who was shivering.
She sighed, wondering how to stop it all, and eventually, Gomamon on her head, she pulled him into a sleepy hug, and he eventually warmed up again.
He had his head on her shoulder, looking peaceful, Patamon still hugged to his chest like a teddy bear. Gomamon eventually fell asleep as well, and Rach slowly drifted off, her head on his.
Raph woke up in a foul mood, and moved outside.
Leo was sitting near a fire with Agumon, keeping a vigilant watch, as usual.
"What are you doing up, Raph?"
Raph glared at his older brother, who only stared back.
"None a' yer business…"
"…You're worried about Kitty, aren't you?"
Raph broke the eye contact, looking at the ground.
"She's tough…for a girl…I don't need to worry about her…"
"That doesn't mean you won't."
"That doesn't mean I am!" Raph shot back.
"Raph, its normal…she's our sister, after all…"
"I told ya, I'm not worried about her!"
Raph ran to the shore, and Leo stopped Agumon from trying to follow him.
"He'll be fine…he just needs time to cool off…"
Raph sat on the shore, grumpily staring at the water.
'What am I being so defensive about? So I'm worried about Kitty…it's not a big deal…It's not like I feel any different about her than I used to…'
He knew that was a lie, when Gabumon sat beside him.
"…Hey…" He muttered, still looking at the lake.
"…Why does it bother you that you care about your sister?"
"…I don't know…it's just…"
He closed his eyes.
"…I'm more worried about her than of my brothers…like I care more for her…"
"…Well, maybe it's because you really like her…"
Raph blushed, really thinking about it, when screams reached his ears.
His head snapped up, and he saw a huge water dragon-like Digimon, dragging the small plot of land with the trolley around the lake. It was dragged to the middle of the lake, and the large Digimon turned on them.
"It's Seadramon!"
Raph only nodded slightly, and jumped into the water.
'I've gotta help 'em!'
Gabumon followed, and Mikey looked up to see his brother.
"Raphie!!"
He tripped over a rock, and fell into the water.
"MIKEY!!"
Patamon flew down, grabbing hold of Mikey's hand and trying to pull him up. Gomamon jumped in, helping Mikey float as Raph reached him, lifting him back up.
Rach grabbed hold of the orange-banded turtle, and pulled him back up before grabbing hold of Gomamon.
"Take care of 'em." Raph ordered Gabumon before lifting him off and swimming out again.
"RAPH!!!" He heard Leo call his name in a warning tone, but ignored it.
"Hey, leave 'em alone ya giant lizard!"
Seadramon's attention snapped to him, and he saw Gabumon shoot a Blue Blaster. It didn't work, and Raph was pulled under by his ankle.
When he resurfaced, he was in a constricting grip.
"RAPH!!!"
Mikey turned to Patamon.
"Can't you fight him or something?"
"He's too big, Mikey. I'm not strong enough."
The small Digimon turned to Gabumon.
"What about you, Gabumon? You're stronger."
"You're right…it's my responsibility…"
The Digimon moved forward as Raph started loosing air through his crushed lungs.
"G-Gabumon!"
A bright light, and everyone stared in surprise as…
"Gabumon, Digivolve to…GARURUMON!!"
Raph watched as Garurumon slashed at Seadramon's tail, freeing him, and fell into the water. Raph swam to the island as Garurumon swam through the water like a bullet, dodging Seadramon's attacks.
The angry Digimon used Ice Blast, freezing Garurumon in the water.
"Come on, Garurumon!! Ya can beat that little lizard!!" Raph cheered.
The ice shattered around Garurumon, who rose his head.
"Howling Blaster!"
"Ice Blast!"
The attacks clashed, but Garurumon's won in the end, making Seadramon faint.
He Dedigivolved, and everyone swam or flew back to shore.
The sun started rising, but everyone was so tired…
They all fell asleep, huddled in a group under the trees, except for Raph, who was standing and looking out at the lake.
Everyone else was fast asleep, so he nearly jumped when he heard a giggle behind him.
He knew that giggle…
'Kitty…'
"Be careful, Raphie. I don't want you coming home in two pieces."
He was sure her voice was in his head, but it still comforted him somehow.
'I will, Kitty…I will…'