A/N: Firstly, I would like to apologise for the long wait and I sincerely hope that the chapter and its content makes up for that.

Secondly, many of you are concerned about my Oc's…Please do not worry about them, for I can assure you that they will not upstage our heroes or become unrealistic. However, please understand that they are just as much a part of the story as the canon characters. They have a purpose and I did not create them only to serve as romantic interests.

Anyway, thank you to everyone who reviewed/favorited/alerted, especially all the new readers. You are all wonderful and I truly hope you enjoy this chapter.

Digimon Frontier: The Return

Chapter Seven: Truth and Reasoning

"Hmm…So this is where they managed to summon the humans." A dark figure murmured, while bored red eyes travelled over the small collections of houses within Flame Village, as well as the digimon who inhabited it. "Those pests sure made it far, didn't they Dokugumon?"

"You forget who these pests are, Devimon." The large, spider-type digimon nearby scoffed loudly. "They were once companions to the humans who defeated Lucemon and bore witness to many of the Legendary Warriors other battles and activities throughout the many realms of our world."

The great arachnid shifted to get more comfortable before continuing in what seemed to be an amused tone, though somewhat condescending at the same time.

"Annoying they may be, but you cannot deny that they possess a certain determination- or rather, stupidity, that helps them succeed in their efforts…" She let out a soft, derisive laugh. "We can admire that sort of persistence even if it is futile."

Devimon just shrugged, finding the history sermon irrelevant. Dokugumon liked to use too many words than most would find necessary and frankly, he did not care much for facts. The demonic digimon knew all the old stories, just as every member of their Order did…just as any digimon taught in history, legends and lore, knew…

The heroic escapades of human children (Digi-destined he mentally snorted), that were brought to their world by Ophanimon, one of the three Celestial guardians. Stories of how these children had gone on to fuse with the spirits of the Legendary Warriors, thus preventing Lucemon's ascension…and Devimon certainly knew of the two digimon who had assisted these brats, along the way, in their conquest.

Rodents; one yellow and the other white.

They had managed to escape the siege of the Forest Kingdom, but this time their luck had run out and he would make sure they never saw another day.

"It's not going to be much fun, is it?" He asked with a heavy sigh, thoughts returning to the current situation and crimson gaze fixing on a pair of rabbit-like Pagumon as they flitted about playing their silly games, completely unaware of what lurked in the nearby trees.

"It's not supposed to be fun!" Dokugumon immediately snapped in reply, her tone harsh and bitter. "We're not here to fool around Devimon! We have orders to-"

"-Ensure that the humans are eliminated along with the pests responsible for seeking them. The village is to be destroyed, in order to discourage any further forms of rebellion." Devimon interrupted jadedly, crossing his arms over his chest as he spoke. "I understand what our orders are Dokugumon; I just don't see why we cannot play with them…for a bit, at least."

Dokugumon growled a low and menacing sound, which reverberated throughout her chest while Devimon stared on unfazed by the display.

"Deal with it." Dokugumon grumbled, irritated by his partners incessant whining. There was always some reason for him to complain and she loathed him for it. "The Trailmon should be arriving any minute and with it, the human children. Summon the Dark Armour so we can get things started."

Devimon rolled his eyes, his bat-like wings flexing slightly in frustration, but he otherwise chose not to comment.

Honestly. He really did not see the point in simply killing someone, if you could not mess with him or her beforehand. Where was the fun in just dying? The demonic digimon snorted. Give him torture, mind games and manipulation any day.

"I suppose you can have any survivors, after we have completed our mission…" Dokugumon suddenly announced with a reluctant sigh, knowing that her partner would be insufferable for hours if he did not get his way.

"Just make it quick." Dokugumon then added with what looked like an annoyed frown. "I don't want to have to spend more time here then necessary, especially if it's solely for your amusement."

Devimon glanced at the spider, a wicked smirk forming.

"I will, with great pleasure." He murmured and then turned his attention back towards the peaceful village, his red eyes dancing with a horrible gleam.

Raising one clawed arm, pieces of armour began to materialize and then join, until there was a score of soldiers standing before him, made up of black and silver constructed steel, glowing yellow eyes and wielding large, crude scimitars.

The demon sighed contentedly.

Armour animated by fractal code and his own dark energy, it truly was one of the Lord's greatest inventions…Why hire or enslave digimon to fight for you, when you could simply create your own? In addition, even if destroyed, all you had to do was reincarnate the armour repeatedly.

"Shall we begin, Dokugumon?" He inquired softly while eying the soldiers appreciatively. The spider merely hissed and leapt forward with no other reply.

"Ah, partnership at it's finest." Devimon sighed before addressing the stationary armour. "Destroy everything in sight, but do try to leave me something to play with."

With a salute, the armour departed and Devimon took off in to the air. From the sky, the demonic digimon's smirk turned in to a more predatory grin that promised nothing but ill intentions.

"Evil Wing!" He yelled and the ground below him exploded, mingling with the terrified screams of the Flame Village residents.

"Alright!" Takuya cheered after Worm's booming announcement, goggles swinging around his neck wildly as he pumped his left fist into the air. They would soon be entering Flame Terminal and the brunet could feel the excitement rippling throughout his body in waves. Meanwhile, his friends merely shook their heads at his antics, used to his boundless energy and enthusiasm.

Takuya grinned as he stared past the glass of his window.

Flame Terminal had been the starting point of his journey four years ago, and it seemed oddly appropriate that it would be so this time around. The only thing missing was Zoe. Takuya really hoped that their theory was right and that the blond girl was on that second train. They would just have to wait and see what happened, which was going to be difficult, given that patience was not exactly a part of the previous flame warrior's vocabulary.

"Would someone mind explaining, what exactly is this, uh…Digital World?"

Takuya mentally kicked himself at the sound of Yoshiko's voice breaking through his thoughts. He had almost forgotten all about the two extra (naive) members that his group had attained…keyword being almost.

Sighing, the brunet reluctantly turned away from the window, to face the blue-eyed girl sitting across from him.

"Some kind of answer would be appreciated." She announced with her arms crossed over her chest. Next to Yoshiko, Caede nodded expectantly, albeit somewhat nervously.

Takuya thought about it, wondering how he was going to explain anything without sounding like a complete basket case in need of severe shock therapy.

He exchanged quick looks with each of the guys, hoping one of them might have a solution, but his hope was very short lived as he only received uncertain shrugs and sheepish grins, along with an annoying smirk from a certain apathetic raven. Takuya's gaze narrowed in said raven's direction.

"What?" Koji questioned, eyebrows raised ever so slightly and his smirk growing.

"Why don't you explain it to the girls, Minamoto?" Takuya calmly asked through gritted teeth, trying his best to ignore his best friend's subtle taunts. The brunet knew exactly what the raven was trying to achieve, and it was not going to work.

"Why don't you, Kanbara?" The raven shot back in his usual cool manner and Takuya had to suppress a growl. Okay, so maybe it might work, but that did not mean he wasn't going to try to get Koji to be the first to cave.

"I don't know what to say to them."

"That's a surprise considering how we can barely ever get you to stop talking, one would think a simple question would be easy for you."

Meanwhile, J.P, Tommy and Koichi groaned, the latter throwing his twin an exasperated glance.

"They really have rubbish timing." J.P muttered under his breath. "Now, really isn't the time to test who is the most stubborn, especially with the terminal practically around the corner."

"When is their timing ever good?" Tommy said to the older boy and J.P just shrugged.

"Dunno, but I'm hoping Koji decides to end this before it gets too out of hand."

Koichi snorted.

"Don't hold your breath J.P. He enjoys arguing with Takuya too much."

"True."

"Wish Zoe was here…" Tommy mumbled, unheard by anyone else. "She wouldn't let them continue like this."

While Koji and Takuya's competition of wills escalated (where the brunet spewed insults and the raven offered sarcasm as a reply to further piss the other off) and their friends watched on helplessly, the two girls nearby grew puzzled (and in Yoshiko's case, somewhat angry) by the display.

"I really wish they would explain what's going on." Caede whispered, russet ponytail swishing from side to side as she shook her head slowly. "It feels like I'm about to enter a room with no exits."

"I know how you feel Caede." Yoshiko grumbled, utterly infuriated that her question was going to go unanswered. "You would assume they would be at least a little considerate, seeing as they seem to know something about all this weird stuff and we know zip."

Yoshiko continued to stare at the male group for a few more seconds before letting out an irritable huff, her fingers clenching around the blue device she was holding. The boy's had referred to them as D-Tectors…whatever those were supposed to be, she thought with a bleak sigh. It was the only thing they had bothered explaining, and even that hadn't been as informative as she would have liked.

The lack of information was beginning to grate at Yoshiko's nerves, and she knew that Caede was feeling as lost (if not more so) as she was. However, seeing how things were currently going, the blue-eyed brunette believed they might have to wait a while before they got any real answers…Stupid boys. Yoshiko had half a mind to stand up and go smack one of them, but she was trying to avoid violence these days (…what with her past record of anger management issues and fights).

"Do you want me to beg, Minamoto?" She heard Takuya snap.

"I don't know, but I'll definitely take that option into consideration if you want me to?" the raven's casually replied.

Yoshiko wanted to scream…and her parents wondered why she got angry so easily.

Next to Yoshiko, Caede's hazel eyes flicked from her silently fuming friend, to each boy and then back to her friend while a slight frown marred her tanned features. She considered interfering in order to calm things down, but the russet-haired girl quickly discarded any option involving something like that. Having a person focused solely on her was something she always tried to avoid, and the very idea made her hands begin to tremble.

Therefore, Caede decided to let the boys sort themselves out and wait patiently for one of them to explain where they were going…Until that moment came, the girl would occupy her time by doing something else.

Her hazel eyes turned towards the window, taking stock of the strange world below. The train was close enough for her to make out tiny details; like the small village, houses and what looked like smoke rising from what she presumed would be their chimneys, the forest surrounding the area and a large structure that resembled a train station.

It was all rather beautiful, in a peaceful sort of way, she thought absently.

A sudden flash of movement caught the timid girl's attention and her hazel eyes focused upon a mass of white objects floating alongside their train. At first, Caede thought they were clouds, but after another five seconds of staring, she realised in horror that clouds did not have large eyes…or mouths.

Caede shrieked, unable to stop herself while falling backwards off her seat. Her actions garnered everyone's immediate attention.

"You okay?" She heard Koichi ask as Yoshiko swiftly helped her to her feet.

"Yes."

"Why'd you scream?" Takuya asked inquisitively though the concern was evident in his tone.

Caede blushed when all eyes turned to her expectantly, but she swallowed and did her best to answer.

"I-I saw s-something outside the window."

They all moved over to the window while Caede stayed back, twisting her hands anxiously. She really hoped she had not been imagining something and had now worried everyone for nothing. However, her uncertainty was appeased when Yoshiko quickly stumbled back after peering through the glass, taking a seat on the opposite chair.

"What the hell are those things?" She demanded.

To both the girl's surprise, the boys chuckled and proceeded to sit down, looking amused rather than apprehensive.

"Guess we have our icebreaker, huh?" Takuya commented with a wry grin and Koji rolled his eyes. "And here I was, thinking it could be something dangerous."

"Alright, that's enough." Yoshiko began, thoroughly tired of being kept in the dark, especially after seeing little freaky, marshmallow monsters outside. "One of you needs to explain. Now."

"Okay." Koji agreed softly, having grown weary of his banter with Takuya and actually feeling slightly sorry for the two girls who had no idea what they had become involved in. "This place is known as the Digital World, and it is a parallel universe to our own. Digimon inhabit it, which are creatures of various shapes, sizes, colours and species. Those creatures you saw hovering outside, are one of those species and quite harmless...And that's basically all there is to it really."

The silence that followed was deafening as Caede and Yoshiko simply stared at the raven, and he stared right back, barely blinking.

"You couldn't have sounded more like a robot if you tried." Takuya deadpanned, glancing at his best friend.

Koji simply shrugged and Koichi muffled a laugh.

"They're taking this a lot better than I thought they would." J.P commented thoughtful brown eyes set upon the quiet girls.

"I'd give it a few more seconds to sink in." Tommy responded.

Takuya glanced at the girls then started to count under his breath, wondering how long it actually would take.

"One…Two…Three-"

"Do you realize how insane that all just sounded?" Yoshiko exclaimed, standing up suddenly and throwing her hands in the air. She glared at Takuya, who smiled nervously while thinking 'apparently not long at all', before she rounded on Koji. "Do you really expect me-us, anyone, to believe something like that?"

The raven just shrugged, looking unconcerned.

"You did ask." He stated smoothly. "It's not my problem if the answer wasn't what you wanted to hear."

"B-But that's just..." Yoshiko began, before breaking off doubtfully.

Caede just remained silent, still trying to absorb this new information. It was all so strange and terrifying; especially for a girl who could barely voice her own opinion without stuttering…And now she was supposed to believe in other worlds and flying marshmallows, and other strange creatures? This definitely counted as one of those odd days, where she probably should have simply stayed in bed.

"If you think that's bad, imagine discovering all this when you were just twelve years old." J.P decided to say, grinning widely.

"Or eleven." Takuya murmured.

"Or nine." Tommy added, remembering his first time in the Digital World and the fear he had felt.

Koichi just shook his head, looking bemused. He did not think his friends were helping much.

"S-So that's how you know about this place. You've b-been here before?" Caede asked inaudibly, her eyes flickering over each of them as she spoke.

"Four years ago." Koji affirmed. "If you feel the need to be exact."

Yoshiko stared, mind whirling with too many thoughts and doubts for her to respond properly and it seemed as if Caede had nothing else to say. The silence continued for a few more seconds, until the brunette decided to lock away the little voice screaming at her that all these boys were mad, and took a deep breath.

"Alright, I'll listen to what you have to say." Yoshiko announced in what could best be described as a forcedly calm tone, sitting down next to her friend as Caede glanced curiously in her direction. "Tell us what you know and what else we should know?"

If she was going to go insane, Yoshiko figured she might as well go the whole distance.

"Well…" J.P began, scratching his head and looking thoughtful. "Most of the stuff is pretty simple and some of it's even similar to things in our world- even if it's a little weirder."

"You'll learn most of what you need to know, as we travel." Koichi reassured them when both the girls sent J.P sceptical glances. "Koji gave you the basics, but you really have to see it and experience it to understand. I mean, that's how we did it."

"And why are we here?" Yoshiko questioned. "There's got to be a reason, right?"

At this, the boys grew quiet and thoughtful. They did not want the girls to be afraid but then again, they did not want them to think this was some kind of game either. Exchanging decisive looks with his friends, Takuya answered the question.

"It all has to do with the message you received."

"The S.O.S?" Caede asked quietly and she received a nod from Koichi.

"You see, we're what's called digi-destined." Tommy said, continuing for Takuya. "Children chosen by the Digital World to protect it from evil and anyone who would try to upset the balance."

"So fundamentally, we were summoned here to defend this place…like some kind of guardian?" Yoshiko murmured with a scowl. This was simply getting more bizarre by the minute.

"Yes." J.P answered simply and silence once again descended upon the compartment.

"This is crazy." Yoshiko finally said, tugging on a strand of short brown hair rather violently. "Absolutely nuts."

"If we're lucky, you guys can hop on a departing train that will take you back to our world." Takuya said, attempting to offer some comfort. Both girls were stuck in a place that shouldn't really exist and he knew how besieged they were probably feeling. They deserved a choice.

"We can do that?" Caede asked hopefully and both Takuya and Tommy nodded.

"Don't count on it too much." Koji interrupted, not truly knowing why he was always the voice of reason, but fulfilling the role anyway. "Chances are high that you may have to wait a while or see this out to the end."

The teen ignored the glare Takuya, Tommy and Yoshiko sent his way.

"Well aren't you the positive one?" The girl hissed.

"You need to be equipped for every scenario." Koji replied mercilessly and both Takuya and Tommy's glares faded. "It's called being realistic and prepared, rather than naïve and useless"

The remark stung a little but Yoshiko could understand the raven's point and nodded curtly. Life wasn't just black and white, no matter how much you wished it could be.

"I understand."

"It'll be okay." Koichi offered gently, catching Caede's eye as she was starting to shiver. "We've been here before and know roughly what to expect. We wont let anything happen to you."

The raven was reward with a shy, hesitant smile.

"We're going to have to finish this chat later." Koji suddenly announced, having chosen to watch the rest of their journey as the rest of his friends comforted the girls. "We've arrived."

The boys gathered around the apathetic teen to discover that he was correct. Slowly, the train was rumbling to a stop within a ramshackle station.

"Flame Terminal." Worm announced loudly. "Everybody off who's getting."

"Why don't you all move at once?" Koji said flatly, when no one attempted to leave. He shoved his hands into his pockets, and then sighed.

"Well?" He asked expectantly, his cobalt eyes intense. "We're going to have to get off sooner or later."

Koichi stood and smiled encouragingly at the others.

"My brother's right. We can't start a journey if we don't even take the first step."

"Yeah." J.P nodded and glanced at the two girls. "Come on, it'll be fine."

"Let's do this." Takuya said, leading the way to the exit with Tommy close behind him and the others only a few steps away.

Yoshiko stood after a moment's hesitation, and then turned towards Caede, who was twisting her hands together and looking worried.

"Stay close to me and it'll be fine."

Caede blinked, nodded and then stood as well, linking arms with the taller girl to stop from fidgeting.

"We'll get through whatever this is together. Okay?" Yoshiko said with a warm, cheering smile.

Caede smiled weakly in return, not feeling as confident or as hopeful as her friend was.

"Together." She agreed anyway.

They both took deep breaths before following the group of boys off the train, steadying themselves for the world that lay just outside. It was safe to presume that none of them, not even the boys, was prepared for the gigantic tremor that shook the ground, just seconds later.

Some miles from Flame Terminal, another Trailmon had recently entered the Digital World, steadily making his way along the tracks, gliding past trees, hills and other landmarks of irrelevance, while filling a certain blond girl with a constant wave of nostalgia.

"Enough is enough." Ren snapped as he rounded on Zoe, looking annoyed as well as apprehensive. "You're the only one who seems to understand what the hell is going on. So spill already."

"Maybe if you asked nicely, I would." Zoe retorted without even glancing at the dark-haired teen. She was busy staring out the window, while also keeping a watchful eye on the little nine-year old seated beside her, sniffling quietly. He reminded her of Tommy at that age.

Zoe sighed and turned to face the trains other occupants. She couldn't understand why she was being so difficult about this. Maybe it was because she felt like they did not belong here or that it felt weird to be discussing the Digi-World with strangers and not her friends. Maybe it was because she didn't know why the guys were not here, and was angry to be the only one who had a clue.

Whatever the reason, the blond girl realised that (like it or not) these people were here with her and Takuya and the others were not. Therefore, she had a lot of explaining to do if they wanted to survive in a place that was so different from home.

Guess there is no better time than the present, she thought resentfully.

"What would you like to know?"

"Where are we exactly, for starters?" Ren demanded immediately.

"What these are?" Saya added, holding up the pink and brown device in her hand.

"Or how you know all this?" Tyler inserted quietly, grey eyes refusing to meet hers and gazing impassively at the floor.

Haru remained quiet, choosing not to say anything and just listen as the older children spoke. He was already scared, but did not want to make that any worse by panicking. He shivered involuntarily. Zoe smiled at him gently when she noticed the movement and he calmed somewhat, then he watched her take in a deep breath and begin to answer their questions.

"This place is called the Digital World or Digi-World for short. It's a separate universe linked directly to our own and was supposedly created from our various communication networks...At least, that's what we learned the last time I was here."

"We? Last time?" Saya questioned with a slight frown and Zoe rubbed her face wearily.

This was going to take a while.

"Four years ago, myself and a few others, received a message similar to the one you all got now. You see, only specific people of a certain calibre receive these messages and even fewer actually commit." She answered, thinking back to that day and how long ago it all seemed…

Zoe recalled the countless children assembled within the secret level of Shibuya station and how many had decided against getting aboard one of the brightly coloured trains. She could feel herself smiling at the memory and shook herself free from her thoughts, so she could continue her explanation.

"Anyway, we were brought here and after many trials, learnt that we had been summoned by one of the Digi-Worlds protectors so that we could free the inhabitants from a dark and corrupted force."

"Inhabitants?" Ren asked with a raised eyebrow, quickly latching on to that indefinite choice of wording. "You make it sound like they're not human?"

"Well-uh…" Zoe paused trying to find a way to put it in plainly what Digimon were, without insulting the race or looking more insane, as her companions probably figured she already was. "They're not human…At least, not in the literal sense."

Everyone was now regarding her with an odd look, even Tyler who usually did not seem to care much when it came to anything that involved her.

"What?" Three voices asked at once. The golden-blond cringed, feeling like a deer caught in headlights.

"Um, well you see, they're like animal-type creatures…" She breathed in deeply. "They have human intelligence, can talk and have these special abilities."

Silence…

Zoe allowed herself to laugh nervously. They all thought she was crazy and Zoe knew, if she were in their position, she would think she was crazy too. Seriously…animals that can talk? Even she would think herself mental.

"I think you're a few marbles short of a full set." Ren commented and Zoe didn't even bother to glare at him. She felt his exclamation could be a little justified this time around.

"Look, I know it sounds insane, and that's exactly what we all thought back then as well...But you'll see soon enough. This world is very real...as is everything in it." Even the dangers, she added silently.

"Okay, I'll bite for the moment." Tyler announced with a look on his face that she could not quite understand, and then held up his purple and white gadget. "What about this?"

"D-Tectors." Zoe answered immediately before a puzzled frown formed and she added. "I think."

"You think?" Tyler repeated.

Zoe gave her stepbrother an exasperated glance, which he returned with his normal deadpan expression. Zoe hated that look because she could never figure out what he may be thinking.

"Well, they're very different from the ones my friends and I had four years ago." She answered defensively and it was true. These looked more like handheld laptops and not cell phones, as her previous version had been. Therefore, it was highly possible that these devices were not D-Tectors.

"What do they do?" Haru asked softly, speaking for the first time since the conversation began. It all sounded like some bizarre story out of one of his videogames or fairytales, and the young boy found he felt only a little frightened now but mostly curious by what was going on.

Zoe turned to face the young boy, unable to give him a mere shrug as an answer and feeling as if she owed him more.

"They could do a number of things." She replied softly. "The one I had four years ago, could be used for communication, it contained a map of our surroundings and once even acted as a torch..."

Zoe trailed off, not knowing how to explain about Evolution and the Legendary Warriors, or if she even should...After all, the spirits had passed on, so there was no way they would be searching for them this time around. Right?

"Okay, say that I believe everything you just said." Saya began after a brief silence. "All these things about this world and it's-umm, creatures. Say its real…Then the message we heard, was that real too?"

Zoe nodded instantly.

"Yes, though to be honest, I never listened to the whole version and only got the summarized part."

"Then how is it that you're here?" Ren asked managing to look incredulous and patronizing at the same time. "Didn't you say something about chosen ones receiving a message- or something like that?"

"Like I just said, I was told by one of my friends." Zoe answered, scowling at him slightly. This person and his attitude were really starting to get on her nerves. "As to why I'm here even though I never got a message directly…I don't know the answer to that. It might be because I used to be a chosen child." She then turned away from him flippantly and addressed no one in particular. "Can one of you remember what the message said?"

Saya was the one to answer, which didn't come as a surprise to the golden blond since the older girl had been the most cooperative so far. Ren was currently trying to burn a hole into the side of her head and Zoe knew better than to anticipate much from Tyler unless he personally felt the need to say something…that was not to be expected given their frigid relationship.

"I'm not really sure." The pink-haired girl began calmly.

Zoe's explanation and strange ideas were proving to be difficult to digest, but she adamantly refused to be daunted just because something didn't seem rational. If helping the blond made this more understandable, then Saya was going to be as useful as she could.

"It was a distress call, as if someone was in danger, but the signal was really distorted and there was some kind of interference…" She continued. "That's mostly all I recall, along with this tugging feeling, as if I had to do what they were asking."

Tyler watched his stepsister tilt her head thoughtfully while he too pondered this information. What Saya said, sounded about the same as his own experience. He barely remembered the messages exact wording, but he knew it had been a cry for help…He also knew about the feeling she was describing. It had been strange, as if someone was pushing him and he had felt this inexplicable need to do what the voice wanted.

The redhead suppressed a heavy sigh.

Great, now he was just as mad as the rest of the people seated upon this train, and that piece of info certainly did not make him feel any better, even if he was not the only one on the verge of losing his mind.

Lost in his own musings, Tyler vaguely listened to Ren half-heartedly give his version of the message to his expectant-looking stepsister, which ending up sounding exactly like Saya's own description. Haru's own account was to some extent different, but that was likely since the kid had received his message from his mother's phone. Tyler's grey eyes then landed on Zoe's attentive profile, while she spoke to Haru in comforting tones and suddenly he found himself struck by a notion that the blond girl had mentioned earlier.

"By friends, you weren't talking about those friends, were you?" The question coated with disbelief and leaving his lips before he could even think about preventing it. He had always found his stepsisters taste in friends a little odd…What normal girl was best friends with only four boys her age and a boy just three years younger. It was unnatural…and, no there was no and, they were simply strange and that was all there was to it.

Zoe's attention immediately turned his way and she nodded deftly without needing any explanation to which he was referring, a fact that made him feel disconcerted. Her bright green eyes held his for a brief, tangibly awkward moment before turning back towards the nine-year old beside her.

"They were supposed to be here as well." She announced softly and Tyler thought he heard a bit of anger in that slightly melancholy tone. Feeling unexpectedly troubled by her depressed expression, the redhead wondered if he should bring up the presence of the second train, but then mentally shut down that thought. Their relationship was where he preferred it to be and he saw no need to change that.

"There was another train at the station." Came a soft murmur that voiced what Tyler had declined mentioning.

Zoe seemed to straighten and lose that dejected air.

"Really?" She questioned Haru excitedly and the small boy blushed, nodding shyly.

"Yeah, it was huge and red." Ren decided to add.

"Fantastic! It must have left before I arrived." The golden blond exclaimed, looking rather happy, but she quickly lost the smile and started to glare at nothing in particular, muttering curses that made Haru's eyes widen comically. In any other situation, Tyler might have smiled.

"So your friends must be here as well." Saya stated hesitantly when Zoe eventually calmed down, after ranting about stupid boys and how they only existed to irritate her.

Zoe sighed, relief swelling up inside of her now that her worry and irritation had bled itself dry. They were here and that meant she would find them eventually.

"I suppose so."

The train rumbled on steadily and silence descended upon the compartment, with each person apparently submerged in their own thoughts and concerns…that is, until Ren decided to snort loudly and sit back with his arms placed behind his head.

"Alternate world located Spirit-only-knows-where, with a bunch of strangers and chosen, to be some sort of warrior." He casually declared with sneer in Zoe's direction. "Now we just need to see some of your so-called digimon creatures, and this will really turn into a party."

Expecting some sort of heated retort from his stepsister's lips, Tyler was mildly surprised to find her smirking deviously as if she had just heard an amusing joke. From the curious expressions on both Saya and Haru's face, the redhead could tell they had been surprised as well.

"Don't worry Ren, you wont have to wait long to meet a digimon." Zoe said, grinning slyly. "In fact, I'll even introduce you to the train when we finally reach whatever terminal he's taking us to."

The dark-haired teen narrowed his eyes. Meanwhile, Saya glanced around the compartment looking faintly disgusted and muttering something that sounded like "We're in its insides", while Haru shifted nervously in his seat.

Tyler merely stared at the floor, inwardly sighing. After recent revelations, a sentient train was not impossible to believe, though the calmness with which he accepted this fact, certainly made him worry for his sanity…or whatever reason he still had left.

"You really expect me to believe this train is some sort of creature?" Ren scoffed, but Zoe didn't answer and just began to hum a tune, turning to stare out the window with a large grin upon her lips.

"This is so unreal." Saya whispered looking exceptionally pale. The pink-haired girl had been having a hard time dealing with all this before, but sitting within an apparently, living train, had rattled her composure completely.

"I'd get used to it quickly I were you." Zoe suddenly announced, her tone having turned serious yet at the same time, kind and sympathetic. "There are going to be much stranger things and you're going to have to be careful. Trust me."

Saya nodded even though she still looked a little sick and Haru bravely took hold of Zoe's hand in need of comfort, which the blond was very happy to give.

"What a drag." Ren mumbled, seemingly unable to say anything else after what he had heard.

Tyler glanced at the device still held in his hand before pocketing it and turning to gaze out the window, mentally organizing his scattered thoughts.

Logic and rationality aside, they were four teenagers and one child in a world that carried many mysteries and unknown dangers. He could not be certain of what lay ahead or even what was out there, but the redhead did believe that Zoe was right.

There was no room for carelessness in a place of infinite possibilities.

A/N: I really am very sorry for my absence (which affected all my stories and not just this one). All I can do is apologise and hope you all understand that life can sometimes be a pain. I will warn you right now that updates will be slow but I shall try my best.

Extra Information/Facts/Notes:

Pairings are as follows; Koji/Zoe (should be obvious by now), Takuya/Oc (Yoshiko), Koichi/Oc (Caede), Oc/Oc (Ty/Saya). Main pairing is Kozumi though and the rest are mild and mostly filler.

A score equals twenty, so Devimon summoned that number of Dark Armour. Dark Armour is armour brought to life (sorry for pointing out the obvious, but there will be that one person who asks me to explain). You can destroy it by absorbing the fractal code used to create it.

Evil Wing- one of Devimon's many attacks. It resembles razor sharp slashes of energy.

Poison Thread- one of Dokugumon's many attacks. A poisonous blast shot from mouth.

Devimon is a bit of a sadist (which I'm sure many of you noted). Please don't flame me if you feel the story is getting too gory or whatever. It is rated T for a reason and therefore it will be slightly darker than canon. So expect a lot of violence, angst, death (with digimon it doesn't really count when you think about it) and most likely torture (and I mean proper torture- No tickling people with feathers to get information O.o).

I apologise for the ridiculously long A/N. Anyway, please review. Any thoughts, ideas or queries are always appreciated. Just because this is my story, does not mean that suggestions or advice wouldn't be accepted.

Preview

Great red and golden flames sprung up around Takuya, burning hot and bright like the sun as his fingertips made contact with the glowing stone. Suddenly, an enormous feeling of warmth blossomed within him and filled his entire being with its passionate, radiant energy. Takuya grinned, his dark eyes echoing the moving flames that surrounded him and in that single moment, he knew what he had to do. Sunstone held firmly in one hand and his Blaze D-Tector in the other, light flared as he brought the two items together.

"Execute! Jewel Evolution."

Fire danced before his eyes and the world erupted in a flash of flames and swirling data. Ribbons of red and gold light wrapped around him and Takuya could feel his body being stretched and reconfigured to suit his new form. In the next instant, the light and flames exploded, and an wholly different being emerged.

"Suryamon."

Everyone stared on in amazement at the large figure and Koji scoffed lightly, though an amused twinkle shone in his cobalt eyes.

"Figures that the moron would be the first to get a spirit."