Takumi and HiAndromon stood in a familiar part of EDEN. Only everything was a bright white. "This is…" Takumi murmured. "This is EDEN…from back then…"

"No." HiAndromon said. "This is the trap Crusadermon used on you." Takumi sighed. HiAndromon put a hand on his shoulder. "It's okay Takumi. This is all in the past. It cannot hurt you."

Takumi took a deep breath. "…I know."

A Plesiomon and a Wisemon appeared in front of them. The Mega Level attacked first. "Shaking Pulse!" It shot a soundwave from its mouth.

HiAnromon held up his hand as it spun. "Lightning Blade!" He swung and a blade of light shredded the attack and sliced through the Digimon destroying it.

"Pandora Dialogue!" Wisemon unleashed an explosion that engulfed HiAndromon. But he held his arms in a cross guarding the attack. Wismeon then threw his floating orbs at him, but he caught them and shattered them in his hands.

HiAndromon held his hands forward and his shoulder turbines started to glow. "Atomic Ray!" He shot a beam that pierced through the other Digimon as well.

Takumi picked up the Digi-Orb and looked ahead. "Let's go. It's time to face the past. One last time."

Yuuko and Tails were sitting down where Sonic and Takumi left them. "Hey, Yuuko… you chose to make your Zaxon avatar look like your brother because you look up to him, right?" Tails asked.

"That's right. He was always so kind and looked out for me. He's the best brother I could ever ask for."

Tails smiled. "That reminds me of why I look up to Sonic." Tails looked at his two tails. "Before I met him, I was always getting bullied because I have two tails. And then I met him. Moving faster than anything I ever saw. He was like the wind. And when I saw him, I started running. Following. Aiming to be cool like him! And that's how I got into adventures with him!" Yuuko giggled at that. "H-hey, I'm serous!"

"Sorry, I'm not laughing at you." Yuuko replied. "I just think it's nice. He really is like a big brother to you."

"Yeah." Tails smiled. "I am who I am now because of him." He then swapped his smile for a serious expression. "Hey, Yuuko?"

"Yes?"

"Please don't get mad for me asking but…did parting with that avatar…hurt?"

Yuuko looked into the distance. "…Yes. But it had to be done. That whole time I used it as a crutch. I realized that after Takumi, Arata and Nokia surpassed me. I couldn't become stronger relying on it. If I were to reach my full potential, I needed to learn to stand on my own. That's why I chose to discard it."

Tails looked up and closed his eyes. "To stand on your own…" He breathed deep and nodded. "Okay. I know what I need to do now. Yuuko, can you do me a favor?"

"What is it?" Yuuko asked.

"When the guys get back, I need to tell Sonic something."

"Do you want me and Takumi to leave you two alone for a bit?"

"No. If anything I'd feel better if you were there. I'm going to tell you what I want to say to Sonic, and I need you to promise to tell him for me if I try to duck out of it."

Yuuko faced him. "Are you worried?"

"Not if I know you're going to tell him anyway. That'll encourage me to say what I have to."

"I understand." Yuuko nodded. "Leave it to me."

"Thanks. Okay, what I want to tell Sonic is that once this is all over…"

In what appeared to be Chemical Plant Zone, Sonic flew through a rainbow ring. He grabbed a Red Star Ring before landing on a platform and jumping to the goal.

Takumi and HiAndromon reached the familiar play place in EDEN. "This is it." Takumi said. "Where it all began."

HiAndromon only watched Takumi standing solemnly. Then the area became distorted alarming them. "This is…!" The whole space around them transformed into a nightmarish digital landscape. And there they saw a familiar pink knight. "Crusadermon!"

Takumi looked at her. "I had a feeling."

HiAndromon clenched his fists. "I know this isn't the real her. But seeing her here makes me think of what she did to you. And that makes me angry." HiAndromon stepped towards her and took the two weapons that were attached to his back. "I can think of nothing better to vent that anger on! Let us begin!"

Crusadermon gripped the ribbon around her holding it like a sword. The two charged at each other and they clashed in a swordfight. HiAndromon deflected an attack with one arm and thrusted with the other. Crusadermon blocked with her shield. She then kicked him back. "Spiral Masquerade!" The ribbons on her back lashed out at him.

HiAndromon tried to block but got hit a few times. He rolled back then held his hands forward. "Atomic Ray!"

Crusadermon blocked the attack then moved in. "Fist of Athena!" She punched HiAndromon with her shield knocking him over.

"HiAndromon, stay calm!" Takumi said. "You won't win this unless you stay focused!"

HiAndromon took a deep breath and stood back up. "Yes. You're right." He got into a fighting stance holding his weapons.

Crusadermon charged at him again. "Spiral Masquerade!" This time HiAndromon rolled around the attack then swung up slashing her from behind. Crusadermon stumbled then rushed. Their weapons clashed repeatedly again.

HiAndromon swung upward knocking her sword arm away while tossing one of his weapons into the air and his hand whirled. "Lightning Blade!" He swung and hit the knight with a blade of light knocking her back before he caught his weapon and ran at her again.

Crusadermon swung her sword and HiAndromon caught it between his before snapping it then ramming his fists into her. As he ran towards the knight, she reeled back her fist. "Fist of Athena!"

As she threw her punch, HiAndromon slid on his knees going under it. Once he was in front of her, he swung his weapons in a x knocking her backwards. He then held his sists forward. "Atomic Ray!" He burned a hole straight through the knight destroying her.

"Well done." Takumi smiled picking up the last Digi-Orb. He then looked at the portal.

HiAndromon put his blades away and looked at Takumi. "I do hope you're not pondering the option of staying here again."

Takumi smiled. "Don't worry. I still have things I need to do."

HiAndromon smiled back. "Good. Just know I will be with you… my dear big brother." Takumi nodded as they left.

The visions started by showing Takumi meeting Yuuko in Akihabara. "Hello, Takumi."

"Yuuko."

Rosemon folded her arms at the girl. "Improved your attitude?"

Yuuko slightly nodded. "The time has finally come. I want to avenge my father's death. I want to finish things with Crusadermon! Takumi… won't you please help me?" Takumi smiled and nodded. "Thank you!" Yuuko smiled.

They traveled through the Digital Shift. And at the end reached Crusadermon, who claimed that it was not her intentions to kill Yuuko's father, but rather the thoughts of Rie Keshibi that affected her. She then pointed out eight years ago. "Yuugo and Yuuko Kamishiro! Nokia Shiramine! Arata Sanada! And you, Takumi Aiba! You all came to the Digital World eight years ago and brought an unprecedented calamity upon us!"

After a battle that ended suspiciously easily Crusadermon vanished. Takumi noticed Yuuko and his Digimon were gone. He figured they went ahead he decided to make his way back. He felt gradually light-headed as he made his way out and blacked out for a bit. "Hey! Are you okay, Takumi?"

The teen opened his eyes and found himself in a white space in front of four kids. Takumi watched them talk before they left. He stood silently before memories came back to him. "This is EDEN eight years ago. I met everyone during the beta test program, and I had a really good time." He followed them. When he came to a familiar spot, he saw something glowing. He could have sworn he heard something call for him, but when the children urged him, he ignored it. Putting his hand towards the strange light he opened a hole.

Back in Akihabara Yuuko found Takumi's Digivice and brought it back to Kyoko. After learning of how Takumi was caught in a trap laid by Crusadermon. The three vowed to rescue him. Kyoko decided to give Nokia the Digivice and Takumi's Digimon and she and Yuuko went to where it said Takumi's last location was, in the old area of EDEN. After disusing a strange nostalgic feeling, they started moving. Nokia felt a bit weird with Takumi's Digimon following her. "Say…Not to say I don't appreciate your confidence guys but…you sure you want me leading you like this? It feels…wrong."

"I know what you mean." HiAndromon said. "Given the choice I would rather be at Takumi's side. But we cannot save him alone."

"Agreed." MegaGrgomon said. "And if I did have to choose someone other than Takumi to take point, I'd say you'd be the next best thing. You showed more support to Digimon then anybody in this world."

"Seconded." Rosemon said before folding her arms and glancing at Yuuko. "And frankly if my choices are either the leader of the Rebels or Yuuko the blackhearted over here, I wouldn't exactly call it a coin flip."

Yuuko shuddered at the daggers glared at her as Nokia looked at her. "Yuuko the blackhearted"? What's that about?"

Gaiomon folded his arms and glared at Rosemon as his tamer fidgeted in embarrassment and shame. "I would thank you to not refer to my partner with such harsh names Rosemon."

Rosemon glared back at him. "You mean like the ones she used to refer to mine? You two should be grateful Takumi talked us out of giving this brat a piece of our minds after how obnoxious she was to him in Kawloon Level 5."

"I'll warn you now Rosemon." Gaiomon's hands went towards the swords on his hips. "Lash out at Lady Yuuko, and you will find yourself doing battle against me."

Rosemon slammed her whips on the ground. "Any time old man."

Omnimon stepped between them. "Stop! We don't have time for this!"

"Rosemon, Omnimon is right!" HiAndromon said. "Think of Takumi! Who knows what Crusadermon's doing to him right now?! We need to conserve our energy and work together to rescue him!"

"Gaiomon, stand down!" Yuuko ordered. "She's right to be angry with me, it's my fault Takumi is in this mess! We owe it to him and his Digimon to focus on rescuing him, not fighting amongst ourselves!"

"As you wish." Gaiomon said taking his hands of the hilts of his weapons.

"Hmph." Rosemon turned away.

"…Can you hear me?"

Everyone stepped. "What was that?!" Nokia asked as they looked around.

MegaGargomon recognized the voice. "Mirei?"

"Takumi is gone, so for now, I'll help you. Alright, close your eyes…"

They were transported to the DigiLab where Takumi's Digimon introduced the others to Mirei who then offered her services temporarily while Takumi was missing. After that found and followed a young Takumi. Then they saw the past images of themselves with Takumi, Arata and Yuugo as kids eight years ago. How Takumi opened the way to the Digital World. But before Yuuko and Nokia followed… "Are you sure about this?" They turned around and saw a holographic Yuugo. "The past sleeps beyond that light. The lost… and forgotten… past."

Yuuko gasped. "My… My brother!" Yuugo warned his sister against going to the "past". But the girl made her decision. "I learned how to be brave. From Dad, and from you… And from my friends. That's why I'm going!"

After Yuugo smiled and left the two went through with remembering how they went to the Digital World. And how they lost Yuugo. Crusadermon laughed at their despair and proceeded to surround them with Eaters. But then in a flash on light they were transported somewhere else. "What? What!? Was that… Was that an Eater?" Nokia shuddered. "But what is this? Where are we?"

Yuuko looked around and gasped. "Ah, Takumi!"

Everyone saw the boy dangling off the ground by his wrists in some band of light in front of Crusadermon. The sight made his Digimon shudder in fear and rage. "GET AWAY FROM HIM YOU WRETCH!" MegaGargomon charged and Power Pummeled the Royal Knight right in the face sending her flying.

Rosemon ran up and slashed apart Takumi's bonds with her whip. HiAndromon leapt as he fell and caught him in his arms. "Takumi! Takumi, are you alright?!" HiAndromon asked shaking him.

Rosemon ran over to them and gasped as she saw bruises on her brother. "Takumi! Say something!"

MegaGargomon was pushed back. Takumi groaned and slowly opened his eyes. His vision was blurry at first but then he saw his concerned Digimon. "Every…one…" And then saw someone else behind him. "W-who's that?!"

Then the others all noticed a regal looking Digimon in black and gold with a white cape. "What?" Nokia gasped. "Another incredible Digimon has appeared! I can't believe it! What's going on?!"

Takumi looked at the newcomer and remembered seeing them after talking to Yuugo. "You're the one from back then…" The Digimon stepped everyone and faced Crusadermon.

"You will… protect us?" Yuuko asked.

After a brief exchange between themselves and Crusadermon, the Digimon looked at Takumi. "Lend me a hand, Takumi?"

Takumi slowly stood up grunting. With each word this Digimon said he felt something familiar. "What…? Who…who are you…?"

"Or… will you simply vanish as she wishes? Together with Nokia Shiamine and Yuuko Kamishiro?"

"Hang on… What? What… is this all about?" Nokia asked. "You know who we are? Who… are you?"

"Would it help if you drank my special blend? Caviar or mayonnaise. Your choice. Or would you prefer both? Hee hee…"

Takumi gasped. "It can't be…"

"Bwuh?! No… No flippin' way!" Nokia stuttered. "Kyo… Kyokyo… Kyoko?!"

"Now then, my assistant! Take your Digivice from Nokia Shiramine. It's time to get to work."

"You heard the boss, we got a job to do!" MegaGargomon said.

"Takumi, we need you." Rosemon said.

"Come back to us." HiAndromon said. "It's time to finish this."

Takumi was still confused and shocked. But he didn't hesitate to nod. Nokia handed him his goggles and he put them on top of his head and faced Crusadermon. "I'm ready whenever!"

The Digimon named Kyoko was easily strong enough to overpower Crusadermon on her own. With Takumi backing her, the knight had no chance. But just before she could go in for the kill. "Wait!" Yuuko stepped forward. "Let me have revenge for my father's death!"

Takumi gasped. "Yuuko!"

"I see. This was your fight as well. Very well. Strike the final blow with your own hand. You deserve the honor." the Digimon stepped away.

"Hold it." MegaGargomon said. "You're not the only one with beef with this monster anymore."

"That's right." Rosemon glared at Crusadermon. "You hurt Takumi. And for that I'll make you suffer!"

"This is our battle as well Yuuko." HiAndromon said. "If you want in, you'll have to accept us as part of it."

"I… All right!" Yuuko replied. "Takumi, please! Join me on this!" Yuuko pleaded. Takumi nodded.

The battle continued. But Crusadermon's chances were not any better. As Rosemon's whip and MegaGargomon's missiles knocked Crusadermon back, Gaiomon and HiAndromon rushed in with their blades in hand. They roared as they charged through Crusadermon slashing her. The knight screamed as she fell to her knees. With her end nigh, she looked at Kyoko. "Why… would a Digimon like you… choose to make an enemy of me? Is this the will of King Drasil?"

"It is because you believe I am with the humans."

After Crusadermon told them of Leopardmon's plans she started to glow. Yuuko aproached. "Farewell, Crusadermon… No… Miss Rie."

In the end Crusadermon's voice became Rie Kishibi's as she and Yuuko cursed each other one last time before the knight vanished leaving a rose petal behind. After that the Digimon with them decided, they should return to the agency so she could answer their questions and discuss their next move. Nokia questioned if it really was Kyoko who in turn offered to prove it with her newest coffee blend asking Nokia to sample. "Kyoko, please!" the girl shouted. "Take the wasabi out!"

"That's what you wanted to ask her?" Yuuko shook her head.

Takumi smiled. He was about to walk with them but dropped to his knees. "Ugh…"

"Takumi!" His Digimon hurried to him. HiAndromon and Rosemon picked him up and put him in MegaGargomon's giant palm to carry.

"That coward really did a number on him." MegaGargomon sighed.

Yuuko frowned. "I'm sorry. It's my fault for charging us into Crusadermon's trap."

"It's not your fault…" Takumi murmured. "This is my punishment…for eight years ago."

"What?" Nokia asked. "Takumi! We were all there! Why should you be the only one to get punished?!"

"But I was the one who opened the gate to the Digital World… I was the one who called that Eater because I never wanted that magical moment to end! I…" Takumi was on the verge of tears. "I started this…all of it… What happened to Yuugo… and now Arata… the destruction of the Digital World… the Royal Knights who want to exterminate mankind… it's all my fault…"

"Takumi!" Yuuko gasped. Seeing the normally cheery boy like this was heart breaking for everyone.

Takumi gritted his teeth as tears finally fell. "I… I should have been the one to stay behind while the rest of you got to safety. Not Yuugo. Maybe I should just stay here where I can't hurt anyone else. All I've caused is pain…"

Everyone stopped to look at him. "Takumi, how can you say that?!" Nokia asked.

"Think of all the things you've done to help us and many others!" Yuuko added. "I wouldn't be standing here if it weren't for you!"

"She's right!" Rosemon said. "We can't just leave you here! You mean too much for all of us!"

"What happened wasn't your fault." HiAndromon said. "You were just a child. You never wanted it to happen."

"And we still need you now!" MegaGargomon said. "Besides, you deserve better than being left in this dump with that psychopath!"

"But I-

"Takumi, listen to me." The Digimon known as Kyoko spoke up. "I won't say you shouldn't feel regret. That's natural for humans and Digimon. But dwelling in regret won't change anything. Trust me. I know that for a fact."

Takumi looked at her. "Kyoko…?"

"You helped others with the belief that we can all do better. That we can grow stronger by helping each other. Why would you of all people be an exception to that? Don't lose yourself."

Rosemon and HiAndromon jumped up to MegaGargomon's hand and kneeled in front of Takumi. "Takumi, listen." Rosemon said. "Before we met you, the three of us were nothing. Nobody special. Always getting picked on by Digimon bigger than us. We didn't have any purpose in life." She gently held Takumi's gloved hand in both of hers. "And then we met you. Our partner. Our friend. Our brother."

"You gave our lives meaning Takumi." HiAndromon added holding Takumi's other hand. "If you did not open that gate that day and we never meet, we wouldn't be who we are now. We all value you dearly. So don't think the world is better off without you."

"And it's not just us who value you." MegaGargomon crouched so he could lower the hand he held Takumi in. Yuuko and Nokia smiled at him. "Think of these two who came here to rescue you. Do you know why they did that? Because they're your friends."

"He's right, you dummy." Nokia grinned. "And we'd come for you a million times more! Just like how you always were there for us! So, stop dwelling, okay? Seeing you this gloomy and depressed bites! We came all this way because we want our happy dork the Cyber Sleuth back! Our buddy who always saves the day with a smile on his face!"

"You're our friend." Yuuko added. "And right now, we need your help to set things right. You're what brought us back together after that incident eight years ago. You're what holds us together. Without you…we're all empty."

"And then of course…" MegaGargomon stood up straight so Takumi could look at the Digimon that was Kyoko.

"I came here for you Takumi knowing well your involvement with the incident eight years ago." the Digimon said. "I believe in second chances…and in you my dear Watson. As I said you should be proud of who you are. Because I am."

Takumi was at a loss for words. So, he just smiled through tears. "…Kyoko…everyone…thank you."

MegaGargomon proceeded with Takumi resting in his hand. HiAndromon got down and took point ready to protect Takumi from any attackers. Rosemon gently rested Takumi's head in her lap and held up her hand. "Rosy Cradle." She poured red rose petals from her hand, and they danced around Takumi's face. "Get some rest Takumi. You'll need it for when we go to stop Leopardmon."

Takumi mumbled as the petals made him drift into a deep slumber. Nokia giggled as she looked at Takumi's Digimon. "Takumi has a great family."

"Agreed." Kyoko smiled. "Welcome back…my assistant."

Sonic Takumi and HiAndromon emerged, and they collected the keys. Sonic looked at Takumi sadly. "Are you okay…? I don't know what to say…"

Takumi sighed. "I'm okay…Let's not worry about that right now." Takumi looked around. "I don't see no pillar of light. Do we not have enough keys?"

"Then what do we do?" Sonic asked. "That was the last portal, wasn't it?"

Takumi thought for a moment. "Wait…I know! Let's go find Big! He's been collecting treasures, right? Maybe he found a key or two."

"Worth a shot. On our way to the lake portal, let's go check up on Tails and Yuuko." Sonic held his side. "But uh…let's conserve energy, shall we?"

"Right…" Takumi replied as they slowly headed back.

"So, your boss was a Digimon the whole time, huh? That's nuts man."

"Yeah. And not just any Digimon either…"

After a brief walk, they came upon Tails and Yuuko who were inspecting the Ancient's equipment. "Hey, little bro." Sonic waved. "You felling better?"

They both turned around. "Takumi…" Yuuko said. "I'm sorry you had to experience that again."

"Me too." Takumi replied. "But it had to be done. But enough of that. You two had a nice chat?"

"Yeah." Tails replied. "Our conversation and this whole experience gave us both a kind of clarity."

Yuuko nodded with a smile. "And know we both know what we want to do."

"Cool." Sonic grinned. "What's that?"

Yuuko looked at Tails who seemed a bit nervous. "Want me to go first?"

"Yeah, thanks."

Yuuko turned to Takumi. "Takumi, tell me something. What are your opinions of the time Digimon were in both EDEN and Tokyo? Taking all the good and the bad into account."

Takumi thought for a minute before replying. "Things may have been chaotic. And good Digimon were used by bad people to do bad things. And vice versa. But even then… I still look back on those days happily. All the Digimon I helped, the things we accomplished together…I'll always treasure all of it."

HiAndromon smiled to him. "As will I, my brother."

Yuuko nodded. "That's the answer I expected from you. Do you remember what I said when we found Tokomon?"

"Yes. You said you wanted to make EDEN a place that brings people together."

"That's right. A place where humans meet humans, Digimon meet Digimon and humans meet Digimon. After we separated our worlds, I thought that dream was never going to come true. But all this helped me remember that our possibilities are limited only by our willpower. You, Gaiomon, Kyoko, Nokia, Arata, my brother, that's what all of you taught me! So, once we're home…" Yuuko smiled. "I'm going to find a way to safely connect EDEN to the Digital World and bring humans together with Digimon. For real this time."

Sonic laughed. "Get in line. Takumi, Nokia, Arata, all of them want to do the same."

Yuuko nodded. "I figured as much. And I'm going to help. I don't know what it will take or how long we'll be working on it…but I believe-No. I KNOW it can be done. And now that I don't have to worry about saving my brother or avenging my father, I'm going to dedicate myself to it." Yuuko smiled at Takumi and HiAndromon. "Takumi…I will make sure you can be together with your Digimon as much as you want. You brought my family back together. Now it's my turn to make sure you're reunited with yours."

Takumi smiled. "Yuuko… thank you."

"I…I would deeply appreciate that." HiAndromon grinned.

Sonic smirked. "I'm sure you guys will make it happen one way or another. Don't stop chasing that dream."

"Thank you." Yuuko replied before turning to Tails. "Now then… I believe Tails has something he wanted to announce."

Tails nodded. "When this is all over… I think I need to go it alone for a while. I can't grow into my full potential if I always fall back on you." He looked at the smile on Sonic's face and shook his hand looking away. "If that's okay!"

Sonic chuckled as he aproached. "You're free to go your own way. I guess you just grew up on me a little faster than I expected."

Tails grinned. "Are you saying I outpaced you?"

"Yeah, don't push it." Takumi, Yuuko and HiAndromon laughed while Tails rubbed the back of his head. Sonic smiled somewhat sadly as he shrugged. "It's going to take some getting used to, but here's to you reaching new heights—partner." Sonic held his hand towards Tails.

Takumi smiled and offered his hand to Yuuko. "And here's to the new EDEN. One that will bring humans and Digimon together."

When Tails and Yuuko tried to accept the handshake, their hands phased through those of their friends. They looked at their hands then at each other. HiAndromon awkwardly scratched his head. "Well…it's the thought that counts, no?" Sonic started chuckling. Takumi, Tails and Yuuko laughed as well. As did HiAndromon seeing them all in high spirits.

The masked man and the little girl were watching nearby. "Even Yuuko…" the man said. "All of them have their sights set on the future. One for humans and Digimon. Hey Sage…do you think we could…" He then looked at the saddened expression on her face. "Sage? What's wrong?"

The girl looked down. "Such a beautiful friendship."

"You mean with Sonic and Tails, or Takumi and Yuuko?"

"With Sonic, Takumi and all of them. I…I think I finally understand what it is you spoke of. A family born of love and not genetics. Everything I want…"

"Sage…"

The girl looked up. "I wish I'd never seen this. It was so much easier accepting the future-

"When you just saw Sonic and Takumi as your enemies, right?" The man sighed. "That's sadly how these things go. The more you get to know someone, the harder it is once they're gone."

Sage held a hand at her chest. "What is…what is this pain? The more I think of them…the more it hurts."

The man kneeled in front of her. "What you're feeling is heartache Sage." He glanced toward the laughing friends nearby. "Your heart is aching for Tails, Yuuko and all of those connected to Sonic and Takumi. For the pain all of them are about to feel."

"I am an A.I." the girl said closing her eyes. "I do not possess a heart. I do not have a function for heartache."

The man put a hand on her shoulder. "Sage, you may be an A.I. but you do have a heart. I know that for a fact. And do you know how I know?" The girl looked him in the eye. "Because you wouldn't be crying right now if you didn't." It was then when something moist fell onto the girl's hand. She gasped as she felt her hand against her face. Tears were streaming down her cheeks. Her body altered from black and red to white and blue. Her mind was thinking of thoughts of her time spent with the man who created her. Her father. "Here." The man held something to her. A blue handkerchief. She looked at him. "It's okay, I have plenty of these." The girl took it and wiped the tears from her face as the man stood up. "I've been carrying a few ever since that day. The day I had to part ways with someone I loved."

The girl looked at the man as he stepped away and turned his back at her. "Your heart…does it still ache? For her? For them?"

The man slowly removed his mask and looked up. Tears were already running down his cheeks. "It does." he said with his voice unfiltered. "For all of them." The girl looked up at the sky.

Sonic, Takumi and HiAndromon landed on the top of a floating structure. "Whew! Took us a while to find a way up here." Sonic said. Tails and Yuuko aproached the last alter holding the white Chaos Emerald. White light rose from it. Sonic held up the keys unlocking it. "I still have no idea how Big got ahold of these."

Yuuko put a hand on her chin. "Hearing about all the fish you guys caught made me hungry."

"Me too, until I heard about the alligator." Tails muttered.

Takumi cringed as he recalled watching HiAndromon fishing the alligator out and then being chased by it up a tree until Big wrestled it into submission. "Why the heck was that thing even there?!"

Yuuko smiled at Takumi. "Once we're home let's go out with Yuugo and the others for sushi."

"That sounds great!" Takumi smiled. "I wonder if there are any good sushi joints that serve coffee too…"

Yuuko looked at him worryingly. "Please don't put your sushi in it."

"Don't be ridicules. I was thinking of putting soy sauce and ginger in it."

Yuuko sighed as Tails grimaced. "I'm sorry, WHAT?"

Sonic cringed as he took the white Chaos Emerald. "Hey man, I doubt it can be any worse than the Bucket O'Sushi at Eggman's Aquarium Park."

Tails covered his mouth. "NOTHING can be worse than that."

Yuuko looked at Tails. "How bad was it?"

"Trust me, you don't want to know. Word of advice: if you two are going to a sushi place, check first to make sure they cook the rice and use actual fish. Eggman's cruelty knows no bounds."

Yuuko gritted her teeth. "Clearly. I've never heard of something so horrid."

Tails looked at the vault that previously held the sixth Emerald. "Hmm…"

Takumi looked at him. "Is something on your mind Tails?"

"The whole reason Sonic, Amy and I came here was because we detected the Chaos Emeralds were drawn here…"

"Did you figure something out?" Sonic asked.

"I'm trying to put the pieces together. The Ancients' technology was built specifically for the Chaos Emeralds and runs on their power."

"We were discussing that with Arata and Knuckles on the last Island." Takumi said. "We think they might have lost access to the Emeralds somehow. That could be why they aren't here anymore."

"That seems likely." Yuuko replied. "Without them, all of Starfall Island's systems, including Cyber Space must have fallen into some sort of stand-by mode. But maybe someone discovered these islands and tried to power them up through modern means?"

"I was thinking the same thing." Tails said. "Once the power supply was restored though, that someone would've had to boot up the systems and get them running."

"I think I can guess who…" Sonic said.

"Dr. Eggman?" Takumi asked. "It certainly can't just be a coincidence that we've seen so much of his tech lying around. Come to think of it, we've seen signs of him being here on all three islands but haven't run into the man himself yet."

"Good point." Sonic folded his arms. "Where is that egghead and what is he up to right now?"

Dr. Eggman was working in his Eggmobile again, typing into its built-in computer. "Hey doc, you got a minute?"

He looked up from his work to see the masked man briefly before looking back to his work. "If this is about your ticket to the Digital World, I'm still working on it, so stop asking."

"It's not that." The man put his hands in his pockets. "I know you're against the idea of working with Sonic."

"The answer is still no!"

The man held his hand up. "Yes, you made that VERY clear to us, but hear me out. What if I could convince Takumi and his friends to leave Sonic's side and join us? Would you object to that?"

Eggman stopped working. "Oh. Hmm… well… I suppose that would be a different matter. Like you said, the Cyber Sleuth has experienced cyber issues similar to this. There's no denying he'd be useful in getting me out of here. And then there's those Digimon of his…"

"Exactly. And I know Nokia, Arata and Yuuko, they'd also be a huge help."

Eggman thought for a moment. "Very well. If you can persuade them to leave Sonic, I'd be willing to work with them. That is assuming you can. The hedgehog has a knack for roping people into his battles."

"I have to at least try." the masked man replied.

"And do you have a plan?"

"I do." the man nodded and looked at his hand. "I'm going to come clean with them. Hiding behind the scenes like a side character isn't going to make this work. It's time for me to step up and be the hero my friends saw in me."

One of my favorite things about Sonic Frontiers is how they develop Amy, Knuckles, and Tails. So, I decided to have Nokia, Arata, and Yuuko go through their own growth alongside them. I kinda feel that in particular, Yuuko and Tails have similar issues as Yuuko is a bit awkward, and is still learning about friendship. And since she relied on Takumi about as much as Tails relied on Sonic, I feel they'd have similar concerns and become kindred spirits of sorts. And yes, I brought up the alligator because it's the most hilariously ridicules thing about the game. Even though thinking about it Sonic Heros had the realistic alligator first at the end of Lost Jungle.

Anyway, we're getting close to the end of the island, but we're not going straight to the boss fight next chapter. Next chapter, we are finally going to learn about the man behind the mask.