Episode 1: Callback to the Digital World!

The human world was decidedly different from his own, Shoutmon noted. Regardless of what differences there were, the similarities were enough to keep his attention trained on it, as well as his own world.

For one, the Human World was where Taiki, and the rest of the human members of Xros Heart were. He had an obligation to keep them safe as well.

Back then, thinking back on that day where he had defended their town from a head officer's rampage... He felt more than a little bad for the fact he hadn't stopped Tactimon from destroying that bridge. However, as he came to investigate after his return to investigate DigiQuartz, it seemed that nearly all traces of Digital World influence had been 'reset' from Taiki's world. Including the wreckage and injuries of that day, to the day the Legendary Heroes came to aid them.

It was jarring, but he didn't complain.

He assumed he could thank the Code Crown for restoring both worlds... or maybe their restoration had to do the disappearance of Quartzmon's reality. Whatever the case, he felt glad that it was over. Now he had more important things to keep in mind – like how to foster good relations between the worlds.

Even if he wanted to just declare the Digital World's existence, a part of his better judgment told him that it was better for the former to not know of the latter- not yet, anyway.

Whenever that day came, he hoped Taiki would be around to guide him.

Wouldn't that be something? So the Digimon King thought to himself, as he began humming a surprisingly soft tune.

Despite being allegedly known for his brashness and soul of rock, humming a melody so softly seemed to be out of Shoutmon's character. He knew that, and did only thus when he was alone. After all – he had an image to maintain, right? The last thing he wanted was others to think that he had gone soft.

"Shoutmon?"

Shit.

Attention caught, the king looked back to his general and very best friend. Taiki, now fourteen, stared at him from the door, with Xros Loader strapped to his side.

"Oh, Taiki. I didn't see you there." Shoutmon snorted, shrugging off his internal swear and sitting down with his microphone tucked over his shoulder. "Why didn't you say anything, huh?"

"You seemed to be thinking about something." Taiki chuckled, resting his hands at his sides as he stepped into the room and took a seat on a nearby computer chair. "Was it the Digital World? I mean, you guys are still looking into DigiQuartz, aren't you?"

"Heeeey, didn't I already tell you? Ever since that sneaky bastard reverted back into an egg, all DigiQuartz disappeared. Both in the Human World, and Digital World." Shoutmon paused, glancing to Taiki. "If you're still worried, I could ask Wisemon to give you the long explanation–"

"Haha," Taiki cut-in with a dry laugh, looking exasperatedly at his partner. "I'd have to pass on that."

Shoutmon could only snicker in response. As brainy as Taiki was, not even he wanted to sit through one of Wisemon's lectures.

As there was a pause between the partners, Taiki took that time to wonder if Shoutmon was thinking about the same things he was.

It had already been half a couple months since that event, and once again, their lives had slipped into a sense of normalcy. After the events of their last bout with Quartzmon had ended, and Gumdramon returning to the Human World, the Xros Heart General believed it was only a matter of time until Shoutmon would come back, too.

And he had, of course. During the middle of dinner, to which his mom freaked out – at least, initially. After the shock wore off, she invited Shoutmon to sit down and eat with them. Later, Houko Kudou could only thank Shoutmon for watching over her son and always keeping him safe during their adventures together – much to Taiki's own chagrin.

In the passing months, Taiki would be heading off to high school and began to study endlessly in preparation for that – Shoutmon himself, despite his busy days as the Digimon King, still made a point to drop by Taiki's home when he had the chance, as he put it, "to blow off steam". Even then, Shoutmon never complained about his job or title; it really made the Xros Heart General think that his partner had grown up a lot by comparison to how he was when they first met.

Subsequently, it made Taiki proud to see that Shoutmon had come so far.

But for another summer to have come so quickly... Taiki couldn't help but think that it was a relatively boring one.

While he made a point to still help out in sports club activities as a temporary member, surprisingly, there wasn't a need for him to help out. Akari probably would've been glad.

Speaking of Akari, both she and Zenjirou would come to hang out too - unfortunately, today wasn't one of those days. The former— well, as much as Taiki wanted to call her to hang out or invite her over to dinner, he felt that she probably had more important things to do than just come over to hang out on a whim. Zenjirou himself, was in another district entirely due to his high school's participation in a kendo tournament.

Both Yuu and Nene were out on vacation, and Kiriha—?

Kiriha came and went as he pleased. He never really stayed in touch, but he did make a point to call whenever he was heading back over to Koto from overseas.

Tagiru? Well, he assumed that his enthusiastic underclassman was out hunting Digimon. Knowing Tagiru, that probably was the case.

As Taiki began to think back, he thought, that time was a funny thing. Just a couple years ago, he was just a normal kid with a bad habit, as Akari put it.

He could still clearly remember that very first meeting in that alley; that meeting that had both changed their lives forever, to every experience they had shared together with Xros Heart. Now, he felt, the peace that the two of them had won was rightly justified.

He hoped that these days would always go on.

"Say, Shoutmon." Taiki murmured, leaning against the chair and glancing at his partner. "What was that tune you were humming?"

"Eh?"

"You know– that melody you were humming just a while ago?"

"Oh, that." Shoutmon shrugged nonchalantly. "I dunno. It doesn't have a name."

"Really?"

"What? You've never thought of a random song or something?"

"Well, no?" Taiki scratched his cheek. For someone with the ability to hear DigiMelodies, he didn't have much of an ear for music. It was a little ironic, maybe.

Shoutmon gave him a look.

"Y'know when a song gets stuck in your head, and you just can't ever seem to get it out for some reason?"

"Not that I listen to a whole lot of music, but I do know what you mean." Taiki nodded. "Is that was it is?"

"Pretty much." Shoutmon stretched, falling backwards on Taiki's bed and dismissing his mic in the same motion. "It kinda reminds me of Green Zone. Maybe I heard it back there or something? Eh, I wouldn't think about it too much." He shrugged. "Say, is dinner almost done?"

"Ah, yeah. My mom sent me to go get you." He nodded. It had slipped his mind completely the moment he heard Shoutmon humming, though.

"Hell yeah!" The Digimon King shouted, grinning as he sat up and promptly hopped off the bed and walked out the door. Taiki couldn't help but grin as well as he followed after.

"You know," Taiki commented. "I don't think I've ever seen someone so eager to eat my mom's cooking."

"What the hell are you talking about? Your mom's a pretty good cook, Taiki!" Shoutmon chided, glancing back at the Xros Heart General. Taiki was almost surprised, but what came next caused his expression to shift into a vaguely bewildered one.

"Sheesh, be thankful, wouldn't you, Taiki? At least you have a mom."

For a moment, as they both continued down the stairs to the kitchen, Taiki wanted to ask what his partner meant by that.

Elsewhere, in the Digital World, Wisemon could not think of the same in the peace and normalcy this situation brought to him.

For Wisemon, he could only think of the work that needed to be done, and the research that required completion – which, of course, he preferred.

Rather than having nothing to do, he preferred to busy himself with his own devices or machinations, when not tasked with something his King issued him. Funny. Was he supposed to think of Shoutmon as his king, or as a friend? Whatever the case, the scientist thought of him as both. Even if the concept of friendship still baffled him.

Disregarding the question and turning his attention to the machine before him, he began to eagerly start his work. His latest project being able to transport Digimon from their World to their own... well, now he was working on a different subject to transport. Namely, humans.

Laughing softly to himself, he wondered how surprised his lab animal would be in that occurrence.

Unfortunately, Wisemon's amused thoughts were unpleasantly cut short by an explosion from outside the hallway.

"Well now. This certainly doesn't bode well."

As another explosion blew away yet another wall outside of his chamber, Wisemon contemplated the best course of action. Well, if there was such a thing possible under this current predicament. After all, the majority of the members of Xros Heart were in that other world, were they not?

It might have not been the best of times to continue thinking, as another wall crumbled. Glancing back, Wisemon could only think and observe the decaying of the wall – as if it were being eaten by... DigiQuartz, of all things.

"Impossible."

Quartzmon's egg had been stored away. How could DigiQuartz exist now?

Well, clearly that must have meant that someone discovered his egg's location. Due to the presence of DigiQuartz, Wisemon could only assume that someone forced him to hatch as well.

Clearly, this wasn't good at all.

Wisemon knew for a fact that he had no chance against a foe like Quartzmon; he was an intellectual, not a fighter.

In that instance, materializing the space-time stones into his palms, he created an illusion of the room. It would only buy him time, so he thought, but if he were to act fast, it would be more than enough.

Even if everything seemed to be falling apart at the seams, but that was an aside point. He had to focus on his objective, and the illusion was only mean to stall out until then.

Running to the machine console, Wisemon restarted the interface – working rapidly as he had before when hacking Hell's Field.

Yes, he wasn't a fighter. Fighting was never an option for him, when others could do that so much better by comparison.

With that in mind, the best option to Wisemon was to call back the King.

"Heh! See Taiki?" Shoutmon chortled at the dinner table, hands on his stomach and empty bowl in front of him as he laughed. "Even your mom knows you're a handful of trouble."

"If I'm just a 'handful', I wonder what that makes you." Taiki snarked back, before allowing a small smile on his face.

"Well, I certainly know for a fact that the both of you are good kids. It's good to see my son made a friend as nice as you, Shoutmon." Houko smiled as she rested her chin on her hands. "You must be a joy for your parents!"

"Huh." Shoutmon paused. His grin began to fade, in favor for a contemplative expression. "You think so?"

"What?" Taiki asked, peering over to his partner with an inquisitive look. "Is something wrong?"

"I sorta don't have parents, Taiki." He replied, lifting a hand to scratch his cheek uncertainly.

Shoutmon's answer hit the Xros Heart General like a bag of bricks. How was it that he never knew that? After all this time, how was it that he was learning something like this right now? Sure, the question had never come up, and a part of him assumed that Shoutmon had been possibly orphaned, but still—

"Whaaaat?" Abruptly, Taiki was lulled out of his thoughts. In that moment, Shoutmon shrugged at him as he leaned back in his chair. "It's not like it's a big deal, Taiki. Jijimon found me as an egg at the Village of Smiles. If I had parents, they were probably deadbeats for leaving me there, but whatever." He waved his hand dismissively. "It's not a big deal."

"But, isn't that—"

"Isn't what, Taiki?" The Digimon King asked with an almost critical tone. "If they didn't leave me there, I wouldn't have met you, the rest of Xros Heart, and wouldn't have become king! So it all works out." Shoutmon said contently.

There was truth to what Shoutmon had said. Still, Taiki felt as if there was something Shoutmon wasn't telling. The expression on the young king's face was contemplative— bothered, almost. Before Taiki could bring himself to ask, Shoutmon let out a rather loud sigh.

"Ahhh," Stretching and scooting his chair back to stand, Shoutmon smiled at Houko. "Thanks for the food! I'm gonna go upstairs real quick."

"You're welcome, Shoutmon." Houko smiled, as Shoutmon excused himself from the dinner table. "But if I may ask, what will you be doing?"

"Ah, it's nothing too major!" He laughed. "Just gonna check something reaaaal quick!"

"Okay! I'll have Taiki call you when dessert is ready, all right?"

"Hell yeah!"

"Shoutmon, no swearing in front of my mom...!" Taiki called after him as he left the kitchen. Whether he was heard or not was lost to him, as the Digimon King was out of sight, now.

As he sighed, Houko stood up and rested a hand on his shoulder comfortingly.

"You've probably noticed this, Taiki, but..." She paused, glancing to the place Shoutmon was last seen. "Just now, didn't it seem like Shoutmon was lonely?"

"... Yeah, it did."

"You can go upstairs and talk to him. I'll call the both of you over when desert is ready, okay?" Houko smiled as she briefly ruffled Taiki's hair. While embarrassed, Taiki didn't argue against it. "Watching you two over the past couple of weeks – more than just fighting wars and playing general, it makes me happy to know he's kept you safe all that time."

"Mom, it's not playing general – We fought for our lives back then!"

"I know. Even if it's all very hard for me to believe what you've told me about Digimon, the fact that Shoutmon is here now is proof enough, isn't it?" Houko commented, lifting her hand away from his head. "While it worries me that you're involved with dangerous things like that... and knowing how reckless you can be when Akari's not around to watch you—"

"Mom–"

"–It makes me happy to know you've made such a wonderful friend, along with the rest of "Xros Heart"." She murmured, giving him a light push on the back towards the stairs. "I haven't forgotten, Taiki. Now, go what you do best. I know you can't turn your back on him, right?" Houko smiled cheekily, much to Taiki's growing embarrassment.

Yet, he nodded.

"Thanks mom."

"Anytime. Now, go on and talk to him." She smiled, resting her hands on her hips. "Knowing you, you must want to know what he's thinking, right?"

"Right!"

Nodding to his mother and nearly running up the stairs, he found himself opening the door to his room, only to find his Xros Loader glowing brightly on his desk and a current rushing past him. As Taiki struggled to open the door, seconds later, it was slammed shut. Shoutmon, at this moment, looked alarmed as he could be.

"Shit, what the hell is that guy thinking?!" Shoutmon's voice was raised as he tried to take hold of the crimson Xros Loader. Glaring into its screen, his expression became a serious one.

"Shoutmon?! What's going on?!"

"No time to explain, just–" Turning rapidly, Shoutmon grabbed Taiki's arm and placed it on the Xros Loader. "Load me back into the Xros Loader and whatever happens next, don't let go of it!"

Without arguing, Taiki did as instructed. As Shoutmon returned to the Xros Loader and light enveloped the room, Taiki braced himself for something he almost expected would never happen again.

DigiQuartz was certainly foul. Just like Hell's Field, and all the enemies they had fought at that time – with Lilithmon and DarkKnightmon being the most prominent in memory.

He remembered at one instance that Shoutmon explained that Quartzmon had assimilated everything within the Human World. It was likely that if given the chance and the means to do so, he would have taken the Digital World into himself as well.

He wondered why he recalled such assumptions at a time like this.

Of all situations, with his life on the line like this, Wisemon decided that he must work harder. Certainly, if he wanted to live to see another day.

As he finally finished the command prompt, with the DigiQuartz slowly eating through his illusions and it creeping up on him and his robes from the floor, he hit the switch.

The machine roared to life in comparison to the quiet hum from before. Gears whirled rapidly as light flooded the chamber, and an expanse of blue and green digital space opened.

"Transfer complete."

At that instant, without having the time to properly react, Taiki lost his footing as he was swallowed whole by the portal. A portal he could only comprehend as the ticket back to the Digital World.

It was as if he were being drawn through Digital Space like a magnet, with the Xros Loader pushing him through and past all obstacles- but where was it taking him?"

As he was slingshotted towards the growing light at the end, Taiki's thoughts brought him back to the time first time he had been sent there with Akari and Zenjirou. Only that time, it had been a freefall— kind of like now.

Unlike the last time Omegamon sent him through – it was more like the first time he had been sent there with Akari and Zenjirou. Which could mean that it would be –

Rough.

Landing on the stone floor with a yelp, he jumped back to his feet almost immediately at seeing DigiQuartz festering on the ground.

"DigiQuartz...?!"

"Yes." Wisemon said smoothly, picking up Taiki away from the floor and hovering in the middle of the room. Part of his robes had been eaten away, and despite being only to see his eyes, Taiki had the impression Wisemon was rather frazzled.

"Unlike the DigiQuartz I've heard about that festered in your dimension, it seems that this is rather unstable and can be eliminated with enough force." Wisemon observed, pausing as he glanced down to Taiki. "Now, it would be wise of you to do something about it before this situation becomes direr."

"Right!" It was like no time had passed for Taiki at all. Out of reflex, he held the Xros Loader up and yelled, "Shoutmon! Reload!"

"What the hell Taiki!?" Shoutmon protested from the Xros Loader. "You're not gonna drop me in the middle of that – SHIT!"

As Shoutmon fell back towards the floor swearing, Taiki continued as the familiar riff of the Xros Loader rang through the room.

"Shoutmon! Starmon! Pickmons! DIGIXROS!"

In an instant, Starmon and Pickmons combined. Unlike the typical form of a sword, Taiki had something different in mind – the shape of a wheel. In the instant Shoutmon took hold of it, the wheel began to spin rapidly, allowing Shoutmon to hover through and power past the DigiQuartz in a shower of stardust.

"Shoutmon SH!" Taiki called. "Clear out the DigiQuartz first!"

"Got it!" Shoutmon grinned, the star wheel spinning rapidly as in enveloped the room in flash. "STAR SHINE!"

In an instant, along with a cascade of gold, the flecks of DigiQuartz melted away. Not letting up for a single moment, Shoutmon used the Star Wheel to propel himself to the walls that had been eaten away– only to find that no one was there. Through the corridors of their base, Shoutmon investigated each with blinding speed, clearing all the DigiQuartz in the process. Jijimon, Lillymon, among others were fighting the DigiQuartz as well, but what remained broken stayed broken.

Furthermore, the instigator was nowhere to be found.

Returning to the room where he had been transported to, Shoutmon was furious.

"Damn it!" He swore. "Did Quartzmon run!?"

"That seems to be the case. Who would dare fight Xros Heart?" Wisemon shook his head, setting Taiki back down on the floor, and sighing at his broken machine. "How terrible."

"You're telling me." Shoutmon grumbled, returning to the center of the wrecked room and landing without so much of a second thought. In that instant, the Star Wheel reverted back into Starmon and Pickmons. "That bastard ate through the majority of our base. I have no idea what he was aiming for though."

"That Quartzmon guy is a coward, brother!" Starmon yelled. "He ran from the face of the King!"

"Well, duh." Shoutmon grinned briefly, only to glance around the room again. "Still, this is definitely bad news, Taiki. Lillymon, Jijimon, and the other members who were hanging around are okay, but the base is more or less wrecked. More importantly, he escaped!"

"If Quartzmon's on the loose in the Digital World, who knows what'll happen." Taiki murmured, nodding seriously. "He already caused enough chaos in the Human World – but I wonder, how did he wake up? He turned back into an egg, right?"

"Correct." Wisemon cut in smoothly. "He wasn't due for hatching until a long while... even though, it has been a year."

"His egg was kept hidden, anyway. How the heck did someone manage to get their hands on it?"

"Whatever the case, and while I'd like to know that too, this is definitely bad, Shoutmon." Taiki shook his head. "We can't go after him."

"Bad doesn't even begin to describe it. He destroyed the transport machine." Wisemon sighed, resting a hand against his unseen face. With a pause, the scientist glanced over toward Taiki.

"It just occurred to me, though. Why did you not send X4 after him?"

"... About that..." Taiki started, awkward tone gripping at him. "Everyone is sort of... away?"

Wisemon gave him a look.

"Elaborate, please."

"Me, Starmon, and the Pickmons were the only ones in the Xros Loader." Shoutmon interrupted. "He couldn't."

"So then, Taiki. Does Shoutmon mean to tell me that the only ones within your Xros Loader are the King himself, Starmon, and Pickmons?"

"Well, yes."

"And if I may inquire, where is the rest of Xros Heart? I remember with clarity that I sent everyone necessary to your Xros Loader."

"... With everyone else in their Xros Loaders?"

"So you mean to tell me that Akari and Zenjirou now possess Xros Loaders as well."

"Yes."

"And that I can assume the rest of Xros Heart is with those two?"

"... Yes."

"You believed it would be a good idea to divide Xros Heart in a separate world that we lack the means of communication for." Wisemon stated.

"..." Taiki groaned. "I didn't know I'd be taken back to the Digital World so suddenly! What did you expect would happen?"

"Certainly not something as trifling as this." Wisemon sighed, holding a hand to his face, and glancing back at the destroyed mechanism. "Repairs will take some time, and with a threat like that at large, it would be foolish to attempt searching for such an enemy. As I understand, with only the four of us here as of the moment, it would be rather difficult to manage a search for the instigator of this situation."

"It's out of the question, actually. Which is what I was saying before, Wisemon. If that was really Quartzmon, we'll need everyone to help out." Taiki nodded, before blinking in realization. "Wait, Shoutmon! Where's the Code Crown? Was it—?"

"The Code Crown's untouchable." Shoutmon said almost immediately, dismissing Taiki's worries on the situation. "It's only allowed to be touched and used by Digimon and Humans of its choosing."

"Which is unfortunate, really." Wisemon sulked under his breath.

"Either way, it might be a good idea to store it in your Xros Loader again, Taiki. I'm not comfortable with leaving it here when Quartzmon's at large." Shoutmon said idly, glancing back to Wisemon. "Hey, how long do you think it'll take you to rebuild that machine to call for everyone else?"

"As I said before, some time. Furthermore, I imagine it would take a great deal of time to locate the rest of Xros Heart – I only calibrated the machine to target Taiki's Xros Loader, after all." Wisemon shrugged. "In lighter news, at the very least we know that the transport device is capable of summoning humans to our world. How fun." Wisemon murmured, eyes expressing the smile on his unseen face as he surveyed the silent machine. "Which reminds me, now that I think about it— how in the world were you summoned to this world the first time?"

"Omegamon did."

"Omegamon of the Royal Knights?" Wisemon perked up, glancing back at Taiki and Shoutmon.

"I dunno about the "Royal Knight" part, but the guy and the rest of the Chivalric Order were the ones who stopped the Digital World and Human World from colliding with each other." Shoutmon said, folding his arms. "He's also the one who gave me the ability to super evolve with Akari's courage and Zenjirou's friendship."

"Contrary to that idea, I did not know that in the slightest. While yes, I overhead the DigiMemories of Examon and WarGreymon explain the truth during Bagramon's D5, this is something I did not know."

Suddenly, both the Digimon King and Xros Heart General found Wisemon looming over the both of them. Taiki could easily recognize that as one of Wisemon's... moods.

"Tell me more."

It wasn't a question; it was a demand. However, before Taiki could say anything, Wisemon drifted off into his rambling state. Watching exasperatedly, Taiki could only scratch his cheek and watch in vague amazement.

"Is it correct to assume that evolution has also returned to return to the Digital World? Or is that merely due to the bond of those "Hunters" and their "partners" as you described to me?" Wisemon continued looming over the pair, before stepping back and placing a hand on his cheek in contemplation. "But perhaps that could be the work of the Code Crown." He glanced at Shoutmon. "After all, I remember you mentioning to me that the Code Crown possessed a will of its own. How remarkable! But surely, if that were the case, evolution should potentially be available to the entirety of the Digital World's population. I'm not sure what to feel about that, but it's certainly an amazing discovery!"

As Wisemon sighed and finally calmed down, he blinked at both Taiki and Shoutmon, thus returning to his original topic of interest.

"So... Royal Knights, Wisemon?" Taiki prompted, waiting for him to go on.

"Ah. You wouldn't know, of course." Wisemon spoke nonchalantly. "Neither would Shoutmon, I imagine. Unless I'm mistaken, you were one of the Digimon born after the Digital World split."

"Yeah, whatever." Shoutmon frowned. "I said that I didn't know earlier who the Royal Knights were, so get on with it."

"Because you asked so nicely..." He started, rather dryly. "The Royal Knights was an organization of Digimon that used to protect this Digital World prior to the event where it shattered into Zones. During that period, a vast majority of its members vanished without so much of a trace. It's a shame, truly. All thirteen of them were considered the strongest beings in the Digital World, but once Bagramon appeared, they began to systematically disappear. One can only assume he was strong enough to defeat them, which is rather fearsome in hindsight."

"Why do you say that?"

"I suppose, the Royal Knights would be the equivalent of what you humans would call "gods", or guardian deities."

"Like Deckerdramon?" Taiki said, memories tracing back to that day and the dreadful love-love dance.

"Certainly." Wisemon nodded. "But, to put such in perspective, while we know that Deckerdramon was hailed as a deity of love in a single zone... Well. The Royal Knights themselves were considered Guardian Deities and protectors of the Code Crown. The entire world." He added as an afterthought.

"They must've been lousy protectors." Shoutmon mumbled.

"Quite the contrary. It's because they disappeared before the major event that changed this world's future, things happened as they did. I'm certain, if all Thirteen had assembled, Bagramon surely would have been defeated." Wisemon sighed, waving his hand dismissively. "I'm rather surprised that neither Examon nor Omegamon mentioned anything to either of you. I would have enjoyed such a conversation." He chuckled. "After all, both Examon and WarGreymon's exposition prior was quite informative."

"So then... Examon and Omegamon are two members of the Royal Knights, right?" Taiki started, with a contemplative look. "If that's the case, and earlier when you said there were thirteen Royal Knights in total... what happened to the other eleven?"

"No one knows. We certainly can't ask them now that their DigiMemories have vanished from your possession, Taiki."

"Actually..." Trailing off, the adolescent tugged his Xros Loader case from his belt. Lifting the flap and holding out for both Wisemon and Shoutmon to see, three DigiMemories lined the sides. Pulling each out and resting them in his hand, Taiki found himself donning a puzzled expression.

After pocketing his Xros loader and placing it back in the pouch, he flipped the DigiMemories in his hand, examining them with a slight frown. It had been such a strange thing, too. After saying goodbye to Shoutmon and the rest of Xros Heart when the rift closed, he only realized a couple days later that he still had only these three.

"After the Bagramon's D5, and the DigiMemories came back because of the Code Crown... I didn't realize it until later, but these three were the only ones that I had left."

"Only three out of fifteen, though? What happened to the rest of them?" Shoutmon asked. The Digimon King frowned, picking a DigiMemory up and examining its face. "And why are they still black? I mean, you've never used them since that time, right, Taiki? I sure as hell don't remember you using any of them in DigiQuartz."

"Yeah. It's weird..." Taiki nodded, staring at the three DigiMemories with a puzzled expression. With as much time passing as it did, he figured that they should have been revitalized, or recharged – But as the seasons came to pass, and even after Quartzmon's appearance and the emergence of Digimon Hunters, nothing changed. At times, he vaguely was tempted to try activating and summoning them, but he wasn't willing to do something like that; not when he lacked the knowledge of whose DigiMemory that he possessed, or who he was even calling.

"You can't even tell whose DigiMemories these are." Taiki murmured, a sudden realization causing him to turn towards Wisemon. "Not only that, but the other twelve–"

"–May have disappeared due to expending all their energy." Wisemon cut in smoothly, earning a shocked expression from Taiki. With an undisturbed expression, Wisemon reasoned, "It's only logical, is it not?"

"What makes you say that? I mean..."

"They lost their forms prior and exist in a dormant state as DigiMemories." He elaborated. "Hypothetically, it wouldn't be out of the question for a DigiMemory to cease existing if it used all its power."

"Then... Were any of those twelve the Royal Knights...?"

"Of course not." Wisemon replied flatly. "For a fact, I can tell to you that the DigiMemories we have seen prior were not Royal Knights— barring Omegamon and Examon, of course. However, it's interesting that one of the members of the Chivalric Order was a Demon Lord of all Digimon, but I digress."

"Then, so it really was like what Omegamon said. The Fifteen DigiMemories were the members of the Chivalric Order." Taiki nodded to himself with a comprehending expression. While he wondered briefly about what Wisemon was talking about when he mentioned "Demon Lord", he chose not to comment. Rather, the idea was pushed to the back of his mind as the General came to a realization. "But, in that case, who were the members of the Royal Knights? Other than Omegamon and Examon – Unless, there's more than just one of them? Considering we've seen several of the same Digimon species..."

"All Royal Knights are unique."

"Unique?"

"Well, yes. Contrary to what you assume right now, there are unique species that exist within this world. I don't think I can claim to be the only 'Wisemon' in existence, but I do pride myself in being the 'Wisemon' that is a part of Xros Heart." Wisemon humming as he placed a hand on where Taiki assumed his chin would be. "In the instance of a unique Digimon, however... I would say Shoutmon is the perfect example."

"Me?" Shoutmon blinked, as Taiki's gaze shifted back to him.

"Certainly. I'm sure Taiki can agree." The intellectual said smoothly, glancing to the Xros Heart General. "I don't believe you've ever seen a second Shoutmon running about, have you?"

"I don't think I could ever mistake his shout with anyone else's, either. That's kind of impossible." Taiki grinned, almost teasingly at the red Digimon. "Besides, I don't think this world would be able to handle a second Shoutmon."

"I'm glad you and I share the same sentiment, Taiki." Wisemon chuckled.

"HEY." Shoutmon raised his voice, glaring at the both of them. A moment after, his expression softened, and he cracked a smirk. It was just like old times – now, if only everyone else were here too. But, was he really the only one of his kind? He kind of wanted to ask, but... asking probably wasn't worth it.

Pausing in contemplation, Shoutmon returned the DigiMemory to Taiki before clearing his throat. "Seriously, if there was a second Shoutmon, he'd never be as good as yours truly!" He grinned, resting his hands on his waist. "I'm the Digimon King, of course! Who needs a bunch of Royal Knights around when the Digital World's got Xros Heart?"

"Before you slander the Royal Knights anymore, you better watch your mouth!"

It was almost a blur.

Reflexively pulling out his microphone, Shoutmon swung towards the metallic flare, locking in a stalemate with his attacker. Spinning and rearing back in a whirl of red, the three present members of Xros Heart prepared for battle— and yet, no other attacks came.

It was a white, dragon-like Digimon, which left Taiki the impression that he looked very much like Shoutmon. However, as the dust settled and a red cape fluttered behind this Digimon, the picture became so much clearer.

It was like Taiki was having déjà vu.

"It's been a while, Shoutmon. And you too, Taiki!" He said enthusiastically while lifting a paw in greeting. After coming to some kind of realization Taiki couldn't quite understand, the Digimon began shaking his head sheepishly.

"... Do we know you?"

"Well, no. I almost forgot that you guys wouldn't remember, but just ignore that, would you?" He grinned, posture relaxing as his composure was regained. "Anyway. It's good to see that you guys've only gotten stronger! But, I should introduce myself, shouldn't I?"

"Yes. YOU CAN ALSO EXPLAIN WHY YOU ATTACKED ME WHILE YOU'RE AT IT!" Shoutmon yelled, brandishing his microphone and pointing a finger accusingly. Whatever Taiki felt, he might have not recalled the same feeling due to being riled up. "WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?"

"What? You're a strong guy. You can take it, Shoutmon!" The Digimon laughed. "Besides, mocking the Royal Knights is never a good idea!"

"YOU WERE EAVESDROPPING TOO?"

"Well, there's a gaping hole in the wall over there." The caped Digimon grinned as he chided Shoutmon, puffing out his chest before continuing on. "And well, since this time I know you won't forget..." He paused dramatically.

Shoutmon would have none of it.

"JUST GET ON WITH IT ALREADY!"

"You know, for someone who likes to make showy introductions, you're pretty impatient, Shoutmon." The caped Digimon laughed. "The name's Hackmon, heir to Gankūmon of the Royal Knights!"