Amelia belongs to Jeabird, Kyle belongs to Heisei255, and I thank them for helping me with this story.
Having survived their weird trip to the real world, Takuya and Meredith returned to the Digital World, mons on a mission. Takuya realized being a Digimon may be fun, but it isn't a game, it's serious. And so was the trouble JP, Zoe, Tommy and Kyle were in. They were being held prisoner by Barbamon and Lilithmon. Then out of nowhere, Lobomon and Legnamon appeared to try and save them, but Lobomon was still too weak from the battle with Duskmon. When it seemed like it was all over, a new and more powerful Agunimon arrived with the power of nature as his ally. He and Sakanamon save their friends but after a startling reveal, Amelia has joined the Demons' Side.
: Demons / Amelia :
Lilithmon was enjoying the fact that she could sit and watch Amelia cradle the little gemstone that Barbamon had given her – projected from it was a currently asleep Alicia. The silent tears that rolled down Amelia's face felt like an accomplishment to Lilithmon – the Warrior who always seemed so in control of herself sat there looking like a helpless broken doll.
"Do you know why the flame brat was so confident?" Lilithmon asked the question and all Amelia did was shake her head.
"I thought you'd tell us anything to keep that precious sister of yours safe. Maybe you need to watch DemiDevimon visit her again." Amelia's eyes slowly lifted from the gem at Lilithmon's words, yet there was something different in her eyes.
Amelia stood slowly from the ground, from the ball she had curled into around the gem essentially. Her arms dropped to her side as the image of her sister faded away. Lilithmon watched with a cruel smile yet that smile vanished and was replaced with shock – Amelia had dove right at Lilithmon, tackling the Demon to the ground. A fist came down heavily upon Lilithmon's face twice before Amelia was lifted off of her.
"Settle down. Now. Or else." Amelia growled and glared at Lilithmon but she didn't dare defy Barbamon – he was the one who controlled Alicia's 'safety' rather than Lilithmon.
"Teach her a lesson Barbamon! Hit her where it hurts the worst!" Lilithmon hissed the words out as she picked herself up, brushing the dirt off her dress.
Barbamon chuckled, "You provoked her – besides it was quite entertaining watching a mere human attack you."
Amelia was sitting on her feet but her hair was quickly grabbed and yanked, forcing Amelia to look at Barbamon. The smile on his face sent a chill down her spine – seeing him smiling was honestly terrifying to her for a reason she wasn't sure of completely. Was it because he controlled the safety of Alicia or was it because until recently he seemed far more reserved with emotions?
"Count this as your only warning though. You attack either of us then your sister will be paying the price. You understand me?" Barbamon seemed to be daring Amelia to test him.
"Yes." There was enough hatred in that single word from Amelia that both Demons could hear it.
'Just wait until I can get my hands on you Barbamon – I will make you wish you never met me or Alicia.' Amelia could only hope she'd be able to learn her sister's location and rescue her.
"We still need to know why her group got stronger – she's the best lead that we have, Barbamon." At Lilithmon's words, Barbamon released Amelia but shoved her forward, hard.
"I do not need information that I already have. Your lack of intellect honestly surprises me, I should've gotten used to that by now though." Barbamon's words were haughty – having watched Amelia scramble to grab the gem she had lost ahold of when shoved.
"Excuse me!?" Lilithmon stepped to Barbamon, her ire now directed at Barbamon.
"Every Legendary Spirit is connected to nature – those brats have connected to their Spirits and gotten ahold of the true power that lies within." Amelia's eyes widened hearing Barbamon's words.
'There's more power within the Spirits?' Amelia had something else she had to try and do now as well.
:The Others:
Walking along a cliff, Bokomon and Neemon led the way yet the heavy atmosphere wasn't even something that Neemon could ignore. No one was talking about what had happened – hasn't since they all started to walk. Suddenly Neemon came to a stop, Kyaromon who was walking behind him ran into him since Kyaromon wasn't paying attention. The group stopped and looked to the two Digimon, Neemon's startled yelp having been the first sound to escape anyone since they started their trek to nowhere in particular.
"Neemon, Kyaromon are you guys okay?" Zoe asked it softly, concerned that either could've potentially been hurt.
Neemon merely picked himself with a grin, "Yelp!"
Kyaromon, though, just sat there. Unresponsive and just staring at the ground. Kyaromon's demeanor concerned everyone. Takuya looked around the group and the atmosphere seemed to grow even heavier on his shoulders. First he acted like a total hard head, got them into a battle with Duskmon that got everyone separated and now Amelia has essentially been forcefully kidnapped. The ransom that is held overhead as well?
'If only I had listened just a bit more to everyone.' Takuya's hands curled into fists.
"I'm sorry, you guys." Takuya's sudden words caught all attention, minus the still unresponsive Kyaromon.
"Why are you sorry?" Tommy was confused by the sudden apology that came from Takuya.
"Everything's my fault." Takuya couldn't even imagine what everyone had gone through.
'And Amelia, she found out in one of the worst ways that her sister is here. I can't even imagine what I would be doing in her shoes. If it was Shinya? I... I don't know what I'd do.' The mere thought of if it was Shinya being held only made him more certain of the fact that they had to rescue Alicia.
Zoe gave the best smile she could, "What are you talking about? You and Meredith rescued us."
"Don't worry about it Takuya! I was worried about you but I knew you'd come through for us." Tommy's words eased Takuya a little.
"There is the issue of Amelia though." Kyle's words brought the atmosphere back down.
At the mention of Amelia though there was a reaction from Kyaromon. Neemon noticed that Kyaromon reacted, the tears that welled up as well, so Neemon patted Kyaromon's head. Kyaromon still couldn't believe that she was just gone.
"That's obvious, the next stop is finding Amelia and getting her back." J.P. was rather confident in that idea.
Koji sighed, "Except there's Alicia. We need to find and rescue Alicia before I can – we can get Amelia back."
Kyle gave a tired smile at Koji's words – at his little slip up, "Worried about your girlfriend?"
"Now isn't the time for jokes." Koji snapped at Kyle, leveling a glare at him.
Kyle knew that it wasn't exactly the best time but at the same time, maybe it would lighten the mood a little. It was all too serious. It was too heavy. It was all a bit uncertain in a way to be honest.
"We also need to get to the Rose Morning Star." Zoe spoke a bit quietly after seeing Koji snap at Kyle.
"After we're all back together." Koji's words were pointed but Zoe looked away.
"She betrayed us though, she chose to go with them." Tommy's words were small.
Saying those words hurt but, 'after everything she just turned on us so easily. Do we really need someone who would just betray us like that despite everything we've been through together?'
"I'm angry with her too, but Barbamon has her sister in a cell. If Amelia hadn't gone with them, Alicia would've paid the price." Meredith hated the whole situation – she was angry but it was really a situation where everything sucked.
'There was no easy choice in the split seconds that she got to choose.' Meredith knew she couldn't even really talk since she had joined up with Duskmon for a little while.
Looking to the ground Zoe crossed her arms, "It's… not even that I'm angry with her. I get why honestly, it's just we don't even know where to look for Amelia or Alicia. Not even Lilithmon knew that Barbamon had Alicia captive so how are we even supposed to find Alicia?"
"That doesn't mean we just give up. There has to be something we can do, right? I mean Takuya and Meredith found everyone after they disappeared. Amelia and I found you guys – there has to be a way to find Alicia or maybe even Amelia. Even if we have to save Alicia first, maybe Amelia will know where to look for her." Koji's outburst was a little out of character but they couldn't say he was a complete lone wolf after that either.
J.P. hesitated, "I hate to admit it Koji but, Zoe does have a point."
"How about we just keep moving? Maybe we'll cross paths with Amelia or if we reach Lady Ophanimon she can offer us some in finding our lost friends?" Bokomon's suggestion had the group look at each other.
"He does have a point, Lady Ophanimon could potentially offer us insight on where Barbamon could be holding Alicia." Kyle couldn't see a better solution than what Bokomon suggested.
'Not that fighting amongst ourselves or wandering around aimlessly will help either.' Kyle looked to Kyaromon who seemed so effected – only to freeze.
"We have another issue guys." Everyone looked to Kyle then to where he was pointing, Kyaromon and Neemon were both gone.
"Oh no." Meredith breathed it out stunned and afraid, "Kyaromon!"
"Neemon!" Bokomon, Tommy and Takuya called for the other missing Digimon.
"There's tracks, maybe if we follow them then we can find where they ran off to!" J.P. pointed out the footprints that he noticed.
"It's the best lead we got! Let's go!" With Takuya's shout everyone raced off, following the trail.
As the group of nine rushed down the trail of footprints left behind by the two missing Digimon there were calls of their names echoing through the trees.
'How far could they have gone?!' Meredith's mind was racing, not understanding how far a baby Digimon could've gotten in what was probably only a couple of moments without attention on them.
"Kyaromon!" DemiVeemon called out for his friend from his position in Meredith's arms, tears were welling up in his eyes.
DemiVeemon, gripped tighter to Meredith's arms, 'If it was mama who had vanished – no! I couldn't even imagine it! Be okay Kyaromon! I'll help to find your mama.'
The group started to slow to a stop, dread setting into all of them. The tracks that they were following had disappeared. The ground had slowly been changing from dirt to more littered with stones and leaves, which had caused the tracks to become fewer and farther between.
"N-no, this isn't right." Bokomon was looking around quickly, hands on the egg within his belt.
"Spread out! There has to be some kind of sign of them." Koji was already moving as he barked the words out.
There was a kind of desperation in his voice that didn't go unnoticed. Koji was acting far more different than what they were used to. The betrayal and disappearance of Amelia had to affect him considering that they had been traveling together since they first arrived in the Digital World. Yet the disappearance of Kyaromon seemed to be having an unexpected effect on the boy.
"Koji." Takuya tried to reach out to him but Koji ducked away from the hand.
"Kyaromon and Neemon cannot defend themselves so we need to find them, Takuya." Meredith spoke – even if she was worried about how Koji was acting they didn't have time to waste.
'Wasn't it just days ago when Takuya was saying that Koji needed to worry about others anyways? Maybe the words really did get through to him.' It was the only thing that Meredith could think of that could truly explain the difference in how Koji was acting.
"I'll look this way!" J.P. called it out as he headed off to their left, into some trees – Kyle following behind him so he wouldn't be going off alone.
"I'll see if they went this way," Tommy pointed to a path that was nearly blocked off, "they'd be able to go this way and I'm small enough to check."
"I'll go with Koji." Zoe kept her voice quiet as she raced to catch up with Koji who had headed off in the direction they had been traveling, 'I'm worried he's not in the right place to protect himself if he gets attacked.'
"I think… Koji's scared." Takuya's words were soft yet pulled Meredith's attention.
"Scared?" That didn't seem like an adjective that would ever describe Koji in Meredith's opinion.
"Amelia and him, they're close right? Even before he was willing to join us, they traveled together – for whatever reasons. Seeing her breakdown like she did, it wasn't something any of us had expected. For Koji though, he seems to really care about her so what happened had to really hit him. He doesn't seem angry even though it appears that Amelia betrayed us and he's feeling something so, is he scared? Is he scared something's going to happen to her?" As Takuya spoke he remembered back to Renamon village – he had noticed Amelia go off on her own but Koji followed her that night.
'Something happened between the two of them that night – I just know it.' Takuya still remembered how quickly Koji had shielded her that night, how Amelia seemed to have cried even.
Meredith looked towards where Koji had gone off, "Or maybe he blames himself."
The words settled heavy in her heart, 'Koji protected her before and they've traveled together so maybe he blames himself for not being able to protect her this time.'
"Maybe it's both." Takuya had seen fear and guilt cause people to act drastically differently before.
Koji, meanwhile, was looking on the ground for any hint of tracks but also checking the bushes for any sign of them. Zoe had managed to catch up to him and reached out for him. Zoe hadn't noticed that Koji was unaware of her presence though so when she caught his arm in an attempt to get him to stop she found her arm being grabbed and learning he had more than just kendo experience. Koji had grabbed her and rather quickly had her arm twisted behind her back but realizing that it was Zoe he quickly released her. Turning, Zoe looked at Koji yet she was conflicted. Koji seemed so unguarded in that moment that she could almost feel the panic that seemed to seep from his eyes.
"I. Are you okay, Zoe? I didn't know you followed me."
Zoe smiled, trying to ignore the twinges of pain, "I'm fine."
'He… really does seem worried. More worried than I thought I'd see him honestly.' Zoe couldn't find it in her to be upset at him honestly.
"You… really care about her don't you?" Zoe regretted the question almost immediately – she hadn't meant for it to slip out.
'I shouldn't have asked that.' Zoe knew she was going to get her head bit off most likely.
Koji turned from Zoe, grabbed his arm tightly, "I promised her I'd have her back."
'I failed her.' The thought made Koji sick to his stomach.
The night in front of the Renamon Tribe's Sacred Tree was imprinted in Koji's mind. Amelia had always seemed so strong and resilient but she wasn't. Amelia had merely learned how to wear a mask that hid all her pain and struggles. That night, Koji got to see beneath that mask. He watched as she broke down and revealed the sorrow that she hid to the best of her ability. Koji had known since then just how much Alicia meant to Amelia so he could only imagine what was going through her head right now. Alicia was being held prisoner and was now going to be used to make Amelia fight them.
Koji closed his eyes, 'Please stay strong. Don't lose yourself before we're able to rescue you.'
"Koji." Zoe wasn't sure what to say to him at the moment, "We'll find her."
"I know." Koji though also knew that it was likely that they'd find her in the way of the Demons sending her after them which wasn't a battle he was looking forward to at all.
Opening his eyes, Koji began to move forward once more. There was too much going on and he didn't want to stand still – no, he couldn't stay still. Koji then froze as his eye caught sight of something red. Rushing forward he pulled the red fabric from a broken branch that was on the ground.
Koji recognized it easily, "Neemon."
Zoe gasped, "Oh no."
"We have to let the others know that Neemon and Kyaromon could be in trouble." Koji was taking off back the way they came from.
'How does that equal them -' Zoe's thoughts froze when she noticed what had given Koji that idea.
There by where the fabric had been caught on was what appeared to be a small crater. As if it had come from an attack. Looking around she noticed small cuts in the tree. Turning Zoe took off after Koji, heart pounding as worst case scenarios started to play in her head.
'Please be okay, Neemon! Kyaromon!'
As Koji burst back into where he had left the others Tommy had also returned in a hurry, something clutched tightly in his hands. Koji's entrance though had all the attention on him.
"Koji?!" Takuya exclamation merely had an out of breath Koji hold up the fabric of Neemon's pants.
"Found it, by signs of a battle." Koji forced the words out through gasps for air.
"Kyaromon has to be okay!" DemiVeemon shouted the words, concerned even more for Kyaromon and Neemon.
Zoe nearly failed to stop herself from crashing into Koji and ended up stumbling a couple of steps past him. Panting she rested her hands on her knees as she hunched over slightly. Zoe then noticed that Tommy was clutching something to his chest while his wide eyes were locked onto what Koji had shown up.
Squinting Zoe tried to focus on what Tommy was holding, 'Wait, no. Is that?'
"T-Tommy, what do you have?" Zoe was almost afraid of the answer to that question.
As Takuya and Meredith turned to look at Tommy, he moved to hide what he had emerged with behind his back. That action didn't go unnoticed either. Tommy tried to give a smile as he took a step back away from the group.
"Tommy." Takuya called softly to Tommy, concerned by what Tommy was hiding from them.
"It's nothing. We need to focus on Kyaromon and Neemon." Tommy tightened his grip on what he had found, Kyaromon and Neemon needed their help.
"It could be a clue in what happened to them." Meredith's words were a bit harder than Takuya's had been.
"It's not." Tommy spoke a little too quickly, which had Koji narrowing his eyes at him.
"What are you hiding that makes you so sure?" It was irritating that Tommy was attempting to hide something.
Tommy gulped, 'If I show them, they'll just be more concerned.'
The tense atmosphere was broken when they heard laughter and talking approaching from the direction that J.P. and Kyle had gone. Looking that way as the bushes moved they watched as J.P. and Kyle emerged, but they weren't alone. The two were accompanied by a Digimon that had a pumpkin for a head and what appeared to be a sack for a body.
"You won't believe it guys! According to Pumpkinmon here, there's a village nearby, that'd be the perfect place to check for Kyaromon and Neemon." Kyle happily exclaimed the words yet he noticed that the news didn't cheer them up any.
J.P. was confused, "Guys?"
"Koji and I found a piece of Neemon's pants J.P., Kyle." Zoe answered J.P. unasked question.
"What?" J.P. was startled and he noticed then the scrap of fabric that Koji was holding onto.
"Oh no, it seems like your friends are in trouble. If we return to my village I'll see if I can gather some friends to help look for them! Or, maybe someone from the village found them. We're not too used to peaceful guests so maybe there was a fight due to a misunderstanding and they were taken to the village." Pumpkinmon's words didn't do well to ease anyone.
Tommy though looked at everyone, who was focused on Pumpkinmon rather than him. Taking the chance he slipped what he had found into one of the pockets of his pants. Once they knew they found and potentially rescued Kyaromon and Neemon he'd show everyone what he had found.
"Let's go! We gotta see if they're there." Tommy smiled as he rushed over towards J.P. and Kyle.
Koji's eyes followed Tommy, 'What is he hiding?'
"Yeah, we have to find them. Sooner rather than later." Meredith moved to follow Pumpkinmon after her words.
Grinning seeing that everyone was ready to go, Pumpkinmon turned and began to wave, "Right this way! Follow me to the lovely town of spooks~!"
The group began to follow after Pumpkinmon but Koji hesitated, staring at everyone's back, 'What if it's a trap? It's a little too coincidental that J.P. and Kyle meet Pumpkinmon seemingly close to where it seems like Neemon and Kyaromon got attacked.'
Takuya looked back, "Are you coming, Koji?"
Clenching the fabric in his fist Koji didn't answer, besides walking towards where everyone else was starting to disappear. There was only one way of finding out if it was a trap or not. They had to follow Pumpkinmon back to this 'town of spooks' – if it even existed. Either way it might still lead to Kyaromon and Neemon.
Pumpkinmon looked over at the kids following him, "How about once we find your friends I show you around the town? We have some candy apples that I'll share! Maybe that'll help cheer you guys up – I know it always cheers me up."
"We can't spend too much time in your town, we have somewhere important to be once we find our friends." Zoe tried to smile as she spoke – it'd be hopefully easy finding Kyaromon and Neemon but they weren't the only friend that they were missing at the moment.
"Depending on where you're going, maybe Wisemon can help you! He's been working on some different forms of transportation, especially since we don't see many Trailmon around these parts anymore." Pumpkinmon seemed to bounce on his feet, far too cheery for some of them.
"Wisemon?" Meredith questioned it.
"Mm," Pumpkinmon nodded, "he's our fearless leader! Just wait until you meet him – I'm sure you guys will love him! He's a really nice guy!"
As Pumpkinmon happily exclaimed this they broke from the path that was surrounded by trees and they saw a town in the distance. The fences around the town looked like metal, giving off a graveyard feel honestly. There were what looked like pumpkins scattered about while the houses were very obviously made simple due to either being made of stone or haphazardly put together wood. There were a couple of Pumpkinmons that were running the town but there was another Digimon present that Koji zeroed in on.
'That Digimon!' Koji stopped as he watched a small blue bat Digimon fly around the town, it was the same type of Digimon that had been present in that projection of Alicia being held.
"Koji?" Zoe called for him, she had noticed that he had stopped and furled his hands into tight fists.
"Come on! This way!" Pumpkinmon interrupted Koji though it also caused Koji to realize that he wasn't the only one who had noticed the bat Digimon – Takuya and Meredith had stopped as well, watching as the bat Digimon flew above the town.
The group began to follow the excited Pumpkinmon into the village, "Welcome to Spook-A-Ville!"
Kyle laughed uneasily, eyeing the gates they were passing through, "It looks like a graveyard?"
A bat Digimon came to fly alongside the group, grinning away, "That's the point!"
"Um, why?" J.P. wasn't sure if he wanted the answer to it honestly.
"Yeah! Yeah! We're all 'scary' Digimon! It's a never ending spook-tacular festival!" Another bat Digimon exclaimed, swooping down to land on Pumpkinmon's head.
Meredith glanced first to DemiVeemon when she felt him wiggle, worried if maybe he was spooked but he seemed more interested in something else. Glancing that way she smiled slightly, seeing a giant stack of Sweets Apples – of course it'd get his attention. Meredith though also found herself glancing at Tommy to check on him but she noticed that he kept a hand over one of his pockets. She could just barely see that something within his pocket glinted in the light.
'That's right, we never got to see what he found before J.P. and Kyle returned with Pumpkinmon. Just what did he find?' The fact that Tommy was still hiding it concerned Meredith.
"Wisemon! We have guests!" At Pumpkinmon's shout, the bat Digimon that was perched on his head took off.
"You're too loud! That's why you can never scare anyone the right way!"
"Hey! Get back here you pint size winged fur ball!" With that the Pumpkinmon that led them took off after the bat Digimon.
"Well, there goes our guide." Takuya wasn't impressed.
"Then I'll be your guide." The kind voice seemed to echo from nowhere.
Bokomon jumped, looking around for the owner of the voice, "Who's there?!"
All eyes went to the book that seemed to pop into existence, the world seemingly wavering around it for a moment. The book opened, pages rapidly flipping as different things written within began to glow. Rising from the pages of the book was a figure that wore dark red robes and a yellow scarf that was pulled over their head – shadowing their face completely and left only two glowing orbs to stare at them while it also flowed around the being's knees. Two orbs orbited the being – one a red orange and the other yellow.
"Whoa." Tommy stared at the being awestruck.
The being before them bowed, moving one arm across their chest – the two golden bands on its arm shifting slightly, "Allow me to introduce myself – my name is Wisemon. Welcome to my humble home."
"It's a pleasure to meet you Wisemon!" At Tommy's cheery words the glowing yellow eyes of Wisemon seemed to grow smaller, as if it smiled within the darkness.
Wisemon straightened out, placing their hands behind their back, "Likewise my new friends, what can I do for such unique guests?"
"We got separated from two of our friends, we were wondering if they happened to show up here." At Takuya's words Wisemon let out a hum.
"They're two smaller Digimon – one of them is a small tan furry four legged… fox? Its name is Kyaromon and the other one, Neemon, is a yellow rabbit that wears red pants." Meredith hoped the description would help.
Wisemon titled their head to the side, "Hmm I don't think anyone fitting those descriptions have come through the town."
The group deflated hearing that but it worried them as well. This was the best lead they had on where the two would've gone. They had wanted to hope that maybe it had been a misunderstanding and the two were brought to the town – the alternative was a far worse outcome. They were potentially attacked by the Demon Lords and taken or by some unknown enemy that they wouldn't even begin to know the identity of.
"Are you sure?" Zoe wanted Wisemon to be wrong.
Wisemon sighed and crossed their arms, "I'm pretty sure. If you would like I can give you directions to another town nearby? It's a bit of a distance and the inhabitants aren't the kindest – hopefully your friends weren't captured by them."
"If they were?" Bokomon boldly asked the question.
Wisemon sighed, "Then they potentially got sent back to Digi Eggs if they're lucky. If they're unlucky they're on their way to the Deep Mines where they'll be used as expendable pieces in a search for some 'Spirit Totem' or something. Everyone's been going nuts over those things since the Legendary Warriors started to appear."
"Oh! Oh! Impmon! You were out in the woods earlier!" The bat Digimon that remained called out to a purple imp Digimon that had just emerged from around a corner, Sweets Apple in his hand.
Impmon approached, "Yes? Did you lose something again DemiDevimon?"
"Not this time, the group here lost two of their friends. Thought maybe you saw something." DemiDevimon circled Impmon now.
Wisemon placed a hand on their cheek, "I doubt Impmon saw anything, they're not here so it's best they move on and not waste their time."
Impmon shot a look at Wisemon before looking at the group, "If they're humans, I haven't seen any humans in the area."
Takuya tried to not get his hopes up, "They're Digimon – tan four legged small Digimon with a purple tail while the other is a yellow rabbit in red pants."
Impmon stared at the group for a moment before looking to Wisemon, "They're not in town?"
"You saw them?!" Meredith couldn't help but step forward hearing that they'd been spotted.
"No, there's no one that fits that description in town – right Impmon?" Wisemon's tone had Koji narrowing his eyes.
'It's… like a threat.' Koji slowly started to reach for his D-Tector.
Impmon looked to the group before looking back to Wisemon, "Isn't that the two that Witchmon found by her hut? The poor baby Kyaromon was in tears, wanting to find someone named 'Melia'. Didn't you take them back to your house to help them with your stones?"
Impmon's words were heavy, accusatory. The look he had leveled on Wisemon was of utmost distrust. The Sweets Apple dropped to the ground and rolled away. The thud of it hitting the ground seemed to break the spell that had fallen over the group.
"What did you do to them?" Koji wasn't asking – he was demanding.
Wisemon sighed and glowing yellow eyes fell to Impmon, "Why must you meddle? Everything was going so peacefully as well."
Impmon growled, "You spirited them away didn't you?!"
"What does he mean spirited away?!" Zoe was surprisingly angry, stepping forward as she drew out her D-Tector.
"I made them disappear. I had no need for them wandering around here, after all that would've meant that you bunch would wander into town and I'd be left to deal with the headaches again." With those words Wisemon straightened to their full height, staring down at the children before them.
Unafraid of the group before them. Unbothered by the glares that were being focused on them. Unfazed by the threats that their eyes promised. Even having heard the stories of what the group had accomplished there was no fear within Wisemon. Raising a hand from behind their back the yellow orb came to float above their hand. That action put everyone on guard, had them pulling out their D-Tectors ready for a fight to break out.
"I was hoping to do this the easy way, truly. I'm not a fan of fighting but I cannot allow the Legendary Warriors to go any farther. You can thank Impmon for the fate that you shall now suffer." The yellow orb burst out with a sudden blinding flash of light that consumed the Legendary Warriors.
"I wish you the best, Eternal Nirvana." The words from Wisemon echoed seemingly within everyone's very mind.
DemiVeemon found himself falling suddenly while blinding – unable to catch himself before he landed belly first on the ground. Tears welled up in his eyes from the pain greeted him. When he felt himself picked up he opened his eyes, even vision blurred by tears he knew who was holding him wasn't his mama.
"How intriguing – you didn't get taken away with everyone else. I wonder how that happened." DemiVeemon screamed, seeing the feral grin that Wisemon wore beneath the hood as he spook – the sharp teeth terrifying him.
Wisemon dropped DemiVeemon, not having expected the high pitched scream. DemiVeemon flailed as he fell once again but before he hit the ground he was caught. DemiVeemon was hoping it was his mama but it wasn't.
"Impmon! Get back here!" Wisemon's voice distorted as he screamed.
Impmon only clung tighter to DemiVeemon as he pushed to run faster, "I won't let you hurt anyone else!"
DemiVeemon watched as Wisemon flung the yellow orb towards them, it was glowing once more. Impmon looked back to see it coming and jumped to try and avoid it, the orb though curved and was coming right for them. Impmon tried to curl around DemiVeemon as to protect the young Digimon but the marble that DemiVeemon wore burst to life – a barrier made of hexagonal shaped data appeared before them. The yellow orb slammed into it only to be rebounded back towards Wisemon, to everyone's surprise. Impmon though used Wisemon's surprise to land and to try and put more distance between them.
Meanwhile, the Legendary Warriors found themselves starting to come to. Though upon opening their eyes it wasn't a sight that any of them wanted to see. Far from welcomed as well.
J.P. was ready to fight, hopping up from where he had landed with his D-Tector in hand only to freeze as his eyes traveled around the unfamiliar landscape around him. Rocky with pillars made from stones of various shapes and sizes surrounded.
"G-guys?!" J.P.'s scream for the others though was met with no answer besides his own echo.
J.P.'s screaming call for the others would've been a welcomed sound to Tommy, who found the quiet hum surrounding him unsettling.
Lowering his arms from in front of his face, Tommy slowly opened his eyes to look around, "T-Takuya? Meredith?"
Tommy's timid calls for his friends went unanswered, even if they had been barely above a whisper. With eyes wildly searching the jagged and rough terrain around him there was no sight of anyone or anything familiar. It was far from where they had just been. Tommy though wouldn't be the only one trying to find friends by looking rather than screaming for everyone.
"How dare -!" Koji stopped dead in his exclamation as his vision came back to him.
Whipping around Koji couldn't believe his eyes – trees for as far as he could see. Gone was the graveyard looking village that was haphazardly put together. Gone was the group that he'd been traveling with. He was alone. No friend or foe in sight. Koji closed his eyes trying to gather himself after spotting no one though since he knew with being on edge the panic wouldn't help any. Koji's panic, though, was shared by another person who found themselves alone among trees.
"Guys? Meredith?" Zoe called for the others as she began to walk along a path that ran through a grove of thin trees.
While walking along the trail Zoe would slow to a stop – a group of shallow lakes laid before her. The water though, while clear, caused Zoe's mind to cloud up, reminding her of the situation since water was represented by one of her lost friends – Meredith. The Warrior of Water would find herself in her element though. Despite the blinding light gone and her vision returning, Meredith was more focused on how empty her arms were. The familiar and comforting weight of DemiVeemon was gone.
"DemiVeemon?!" Meredith might be concerned about the others she knew though that they could protect themselves if push came to shove, but DemiVeemon?
Meredith attempted to race off to where she heard a sound but she'd find herself losing her footing, sliding across the ice coated ground that the luminescence moss hadn't illuminated enough to reveal that it wasn't just water coated ground, which would've made sense considering the sky above rippled as if it was water. Underneath another type of different sky, but in a brighter place, was Takuya who upon opening his eyes found himself was barren land that had stone cliffs all around colored the same blue yellow scheme of the sky above.
Looking around, Takuya's heart was sinking, "Where'd everyone go?"
While Takuya couldn't find a single sign of life within his sight, that wasn't an issue that Kyle had. Kyle found himself standing in the middle of a sprawling field – grass for as far as he could see. Honestly, Kyle found it rather relaxing. Kyle found himself wanting to close his eyes and forget about the world for a while.
Just when everyone was finally back together, it seems like the group is separated once again. Will our heroes ever get to stay together? Will they be able to find their way back together? What awaits them now in their hour of separation? Find out next time on Digimon: Digital Monsters!