A.N.: Oh my goodness, it's here! It's certainly been a while in the making. Thank you so much to everyone who has patiently (or not-so-patiently) waited for this one. Life has certainly thrown a few curved balls at me over the last few months, but at last I have an update completed!

I don't want to commit to a regular schedule for future updates just yet (I have a lot of other projects with hard deadlines on them which, sadly, are taking priority at the moment), but I do want to start working on the next chapter soon. As of the 11th one of my deadlines will be up, which will, with any luck, mean that I have more time to write HF. Always assuming that my kids don't take up every waking moment... (Bring on the start of term, lol!)

Tuesday, 12:38am (12:38pm local time)

Mimi rather felt that she was justified in being apprehensive about the fact the squad of soldiers led her to another abandoned house which looked more or less exactly the same as every other building in the street.

"We…we're not going in there, are we?" she said, halting halfway along the path to the door.

The leader of the squad, a woman who had introduced herself as Chausiku, grinned. "So your bravado has its limits, eh, Envoy of the Forest Elders? I find it mighty curious that anyone claiming to be sent by Ithel is wary of going below ground, mind. No one stays topside 'less they have to, these days."

Mimi stiffened. "We're going underground?"

Some of the soldiers exchanged wary glances. Mimi chewed the inside of her lip.

Chausiku regarded her levelly, drumming her dark brown fingers on the barrel of her rifle.

"Spinewolves got you nervous, is it?" she said eventually. "Coz you can rest assured, there's none of 'em where we're going."

"Spinewolves?" Mimi asked, half-consciously wrapping her arms around Palmon, who lay limp in the onbuhimo still.

"Aye," said another soldier, who she had guessed to be Chausiku's second-in-command. "Unholy abominations as managed to take over the Old City back when the problems all started."

Chausiku cleared her throat. "Envoy as this young lady might yet be, let's not forget she's also been apprehended trespassing in the city, shall we? Let's save the idle chit-chat for when someone a few ranks up has confirmed she's not a spy, and we're not likely to be hauled up for consorting with the enemy." She shook her head, and pointed her rifle at the door. "Inside please, miss. We've protocol to get through no matter who you turn out to be."

There was a no-nonsense look about the woman despite the lack of any animosity in her voice. Judging from the easy way in which she handled the gun, Mimi guessed she'd been a soldier for a long time.

In any event, the house they entered really wasn't much like any of the others. All the furniture had been removed, and the doors had been boarded up and blocked off permanently. She was led along a hallway to a hatch, and asked to step back as it was thrown open, revealing a metal staircase in good repair. The passage down was lit by some very old-fashioned electric bulbs, fastened to the wall with metal clips and a thick wire which looked as though it had been wrapped in canvas.

Mimi stared at it. "We're going down there?"

"Yes indeed, Miss Envoy," Chausiku said dryly. "Forget to give you directions on your diplomatic mission from the Elders, did they?"

Pursing her lips, Mimi opened her mouth to complain that it was hardly her fault she was stuck there, then closed it again. So far, the soldiers had been far nicer than the ones who had shot at her, and it wasn't as though she or Palmon would be able to defend themselves very well if they got angry. Was there really any point in risking that by being rude?

She huffed quietly to herself instead, and took a few wary steps down into the cellar. To her surprise, rather than the room she had been expecting she found a corridor, lit along one side by more of the electric bulbs. The walls were solid earth, braced by wooden beams, but the floor underfoot was poured concrete. It reminded her of an old film which she'd watched with her parents while she'd been in America, something about one of the world wars and all filmed in black and white.

…It hadn't been a very nice film, actually, she realised when she thought about it a little more. Her mother had switched the channel to something else halfway through. Oh dear.

The last soldier down—the second-in-command who hadn't bothered to introduce himself—closed the hatch and drew several bars over it. Mimi tried to hide her anxiety at being locked into the tunnel with a group of soldiers, far away from the open air.

"H-how far is it?" Mimi asked, wincing at the uncertainty in her voice. She was an Envoy, wasn't she? And was definitely a Chosen Child, and that meant she had to hold it together. People were relying on them—a lot of people.

Palmon stirred in the onbuhimo and Mimi tensed. So far, none of the soldiers had said anything about her partner, and she wasn't sure what they would make of her if she started talking. Last time, someone shot her, she thought uneasily. She couldn't risk that happening again, even if her current escort had their rifles lowered to the ground, and walked along with easy, relaxed expressions. Palmon had protected her on so many occasions in the past. Now it was time she did the same for her partner in return.

"Depends," Chausiku said bluntly. "Technically, the City proper starts just a few floors down, so we'll be at the nearest guard post in ten minutes or so. Not sure how long they'll keep us. Most likely someone will check you over. Just to make sure you're being honest. Assuming you are who you say you are…well. It's a fair walk to their Graces' quarters from here, but who knows? Maybe you'll get the special treatment."

"Special treatment?" Mimi asked, not sure she liked the sound of that.

But rather than answer, Chausiku simply shook her head.

After they had walked a few more paces in silence, the woman sighed, and turned around to face Mimi. She stared at her levelly with dark brown eyes that looked almost black in the poorly-lit corridor.

"Look, your story's good enough that I'm being chattier than I ever would with a normal trespasser, but if you think I'm giving you any real information about the City you must be of the opinion I'm stupid or something. I'm not gonna lie, Envoy. Nothing I've told you is secret. Nothing's gonna give you any kind of advantage if you turn out to be pulling something. Because much as I'd like to think you really are a poor, defenceless little girl who somehow got dropped into a warzone with nothing but a large stick and a highly important message—from our distant neighbours that no one's heard a peep out of in over a year, no less—shockingly enough, it's a pretty hard tale to swallow. Sorry kid. I want to like you for your pluck, but that's gonna have to wait until I get some official confirmation that's what it actually is."

Mimi blinked. "But…who else would I be?"

Chausiku raised an eyebrow, even as several of her soldiers stifled laughter.

"Kid, you could be anything. Rogue Fae, illusion, shapeshifter…hell, even the fact it's only just past high noon out there wouldn't technically prevent you from being undead of some kind. After all, it's not like you were able to put up much of a fight while we were outside. But if you're Fae then the iron gate'll let us know; if you're an illusion then we'll get too deep for your conjurer to maintain. Shapeshifters or undead we can sniff out too."

"And if you're just plain lying then you picked the wrong squad to mess with for sure," another of the soldiers piped up.

He was silenced by the second-in-command, but Mimi couldn't help noticing that Chausiku had smiled thinly at his words. Somehow it wasn't a reassuring smile at all.

I really hope I haven't made a mistake, she thought.

Tuesday, 1:34am (1:34pm local time)

Takeru looked down at himself and grimaced.

"I guess it could probably be worse," he said after a moment, sighing.

Patamon watched from his perch on the bed, and looked between him and the healer who had assisted him with the fastenings. He'd given it a valiant attempt, but his fingers were still too stiff and sore to manage.

But you just look like everyone else who lives here now, Takeru," Patamon said. "What's wrong?"

Takeru glanced at the healer, who watched him impassively. He hadn't managed to offend them, had he?

"It's just too different," he said quickly. "I'm not used to really baggy shirts like this, or to…are they even trousers?"

"Breeches," the healer said helpfully. "These are clothes of the sort we keep ready against emergencies. They are made in standard sizes, rather than being tailored to fit, and the porters had to estimate which to bring. Now that you are awake it will be possible to arrange fittings."

Takeru stared blankly at him. "Fittings?"

"Well, naturally, Chosen. I cannot believe the Elders would allow you to remain without suitable attire. If you truly mean to leave the Forest City and battle the corruption, you would need armour and weapons much as the Scouts possess."

Takeru clamped his mouth shut rather than squawk something undignified like: "Wait what?" The last he'd heard they were being sent off to find some council, not preparing to join an army. He needed to find the others.

"So…am I allowed to leave now?" he managed at last. "The hospital, I mean. You've been really helpful, and I'm grateful for everything you've done, but…I'd also like to see my friends." And find out what's going on, he added silently.

"Of course! I'll go fetch a porter to escort you down."

Takeru watched warily as the healer left the ward, and sat down on the bed. He didn't want to admit just how tiring it was to stand, or how much his feet ached when he did so. Patamon clambered onto his lap.

"It's okay, Takeru," he said, looking up at him. "Everyone's being really nice now they know who we are."

"It's not really that," Takeru replied, hugging his partner as tightly as he dared. Fear still coiled in his gut; a tight, unpleasant knot. Every time he closed his eyes he saw stars tumbling over themselves. I'm underground, he told himself firmly. Underground and there's nowhere to fall.

The weight of Patamon in his lap was reassuring. So, oddly enough, was the slightly rough material of the shirt he had been given. He couldn't be falling through the air if he was sat on a hospital bed in strange clothes. And he was safe with Patamon, so there was nothing to be scared of. Nothing to close off his senses.

Three or four deep breaths later he heard footsteps, and opened his eyes. A fairy walked in, pushing a wheelchair which looked like some sort of elaborate film prop.

"The doctors wanted you to rest," he said, apparently noticing the expression on Takeru's face. "Apparently you had a run in with a goblin? Better not to push it, I say."

Being wheeled around rather than being allowed to walk wasn't quite how Takeru had hoped he would make his exit from the hospital wing, but after several minutes' worth of corridors, and a wide, spiralling ramp which took him down a number of floors, he had to admit that it was probably for the best. Despite the long sleep, weariness tugged at his bones, and he found himself yawning, even despite the interesting views.

There were people everywhere, all of different shapes and (in some cases) sizes, all bustling around and hardly sparing him a second glance. He clung to Patamon and watched them between yawns, noting that at least the healer hadn't been exaggerating about his clothes. Most of the crowds did seem to be wearing things which weren't really all that dissimilar to his own things.

The floor with the hospital wing was the busiest, but after the ramp they emerged onto a smaller, more ornate hallway which reminded him of a hotel. There were markings on most of the doors, and a thick carpet underfoot. Partway along he heard familiar voices.

"Can I walk from here?" he asked the porter, looking round. "I…I'd kinda prefer it to being pushed in."

The porter smiled. "Of course, Chosen. But I shall leave the convalescing chair in your chambers, lest you require it for your next meeting with the Elders."

Takeru tried not to groan as he hauled himself out of the chair. Wasn't that something old people did? He sounded like his grandmother, not a normal teenager. Patamon fluttered around him, orbiting his head excitedly. He hadn't gone more than a few steps down the hallway when Tentomon's head poked out of the doorway.

"Takeru!" he cried, hurrying out into the corridor. "It's good to see you again. I was most concerned when I heard about what has been happening to you and Koushiro, so—"

"Tentomon!" came Koushiro's voice. He sounded tired. "Let him come in and sit down."

Moments later Taichi appeared at the doorway. "Hey, glad to see you upright," he said. "Come on, we're all gathering in Koushiro's room for now while Hikari has a nap. Unless you need to lie down as well?"

Takeru shook his head, and winced. Urgh, that hurt. "I think I've been lying down for way too long already," he said.

Taichi nodded. "I can understand that. It looks like it helped, at least."

Takeru followed him into the room, eyes widening as he took it all in. Koushiro was seated at an ornate desk piled high with old books. More of them lay stacked in a few piles beside it, and Tentomon and Agumon were perched on the edge of a large four-poster bed which stood against the far wall. The general effect was that of a Western fairy tale made real.

"Pretty nuts, right?" Taichi said, grinning. "At least it beats camping out every night like we had to last time."

He steered Takeru over to a sofa and gestured for him to sit. Koushiro had already returned to pouring over the open book on the desk, jotting down notes.

"How are you feeling?" Taichi asked, expression turning more serious. "You've had a rough couple of days."

"I'm fine," Takeru said. Patamon settled onto the cushion beside him, nudging against his leg. He sighed. "I mean, I ache, and walking hurts, but it's not that bad, really. Especially considering how I should be feeling. But that's… Taichi, what's going on? The healer said something about 'battling corruption', and I have no idea what that means."

Taichi sighed. "None of us are really sure at the moment," he said, rubbing the side of his head with one hand. The other held his digivice. "But Ithel…you know he wanted us to go see this Council, right? Well, apparently it's not gonna be a walk in the park. Turns out, they've sent people to them before. Messengers asking for help, because apparently the Council are…I guess they're this world's Four Holy Beasts. From what we can tell, anyway. The trouble is…none of them came back. They don't even know if they made it there. Probably they didn't."

Takeru closed his eyes and hung his head. "So we're marching off into almost certain doom again," he said.

It was strange, really, how calm he felt. Part of him almost wished he were scared, but all he really felt was exhausted. After all, how many times could a person be thrown into mortal peril before that background pressure started to feel like normality? When he looked up, Taichi's face told exactly the same story.

"It shouldn't be as bad as all that," Taichi said. "We've got a real advantage the Scouts—the people they've been sending—don't have. There will be more of us, for one. Enough to put up a fight, while not being so many that we make ourselves a target. And we've got our partners, and if things get really bad, we know there's a strong chance we'll just get thrown back to Earth for a bit. And we've had news from Jou and Ken, too. They're safe in another underground city somewhere in the mountains, and the people in charge there are going to put together some sort of armed guard to escort them here. With six of us travelling together, our partners should be able to fend off any trouble, just the same as they always could in the digital world."

Takeru swallowed. He took a breath, but before he could speak, Taichi shook his head.

"We haven't heard from Yamato or Sora yet," he said. "Mimi…" He frowned. "Mimi's ended up back in a place which sounds a bit like the city he was in, but we can't be sure of anything more than that just yet. We're not giving up—we're going to find them—but I can't make promises when. At worst, though…we've got to go north to get to this Council. That means going past that city marked on the map we found at the station. If Mimi doesn't find them then frankly, this whole prophecy thing can wait. We'll take a detour and look for them ourselves."

The expression on Taichi's face hadn't lost any of its seriousness or solemnity, but despite his aches and pains, Takeru felt lighter than he had since he'd found out about his brother's disappearance. Taichi had been telling him in a roundabout way not to get his hopes up. He knew that. But who would he be if he didn't do just that?

Tuesday, 2:00am (2:00pm local time)

By the time they reached the second checkpoint, Mimi's legs ached with each and every step. How much further could this city be? It was as though they had been walking forever. The weight of Palmon dragged at her front, and the straps had rubbed her back until it burned. Both her arms and her whole cheek felt hot and tight around the scratches there. She'd raised her hand to her face once as they walked, and felt the warmth even without touching the skin.

Mrs Yagami cleaned them all up, she thought, pressing her lips together. It's fine.

The gateway they passed through to reach the guards was a strange affair, constructed entirely of stone and wood with strips of a silvery metal inlaid into it. She frowned at it as they walked underneath.

"Why wood?" she asked "Wouldn't steel be stronger, if you wanted to keep things out?"

The second-in-command snorted, but it was Chausiku who answered. She'd gotten considerably friendlier since the guards at the first checkpoint had proven that Mimi was human, and that she was telling the truth about her identity.

"Kid, steel's iron, and you don't get that anywhere Fae are passing through. Besides, anyone who overpowers the guards back there ain't gonna be stopped by a bit of steel, no matter how thick it is. That up there—"she pointed to the metal embedded in the wooden portions of the door—"is pure silver. Best thing for enchanting, and you're not gonna get werefolk passing under it, just for an added bonus."

Mimi swallowed uncomfortably. "Oh."

The guards at the checkpoint were friendlier by far than the first set she had spoken to. They seemed to know Chausiku and her squad quite well, chatting about people and places Mimi knew nothing about. She kept her head down, hoping that someone would let her rest for a bit before they made her walk any further. Despite trying to rest throughout the day in the Yagami's apartment, her body was firmly reminding her that it was the middle of the night, and she was bone-weary.

"Envoy?" came a voice. She looked up to see a short, slender man with translucent wings holding out his arm. "Envoy, we had word sent of your arrival, and injured state. We don't keep much by at the checkpoints, but we have a restorative which you may drink to tide you over. I've also been instructed to inform you that a chamber has been made ready, with attendants who will help you prepare for your audience with Their Graces. It has been scheduled for four bells of the afternoon."

"They're speaking with her today?" Chausiku asked. She looked down at her wrist. "In…two hours?"

"It's unexpected, most certainly," the man replied. His wings shimmered as he moved, catching light from the bulbs illuminating the corridor. "But that's the order." He turned to Mimi, who belatedly realised she was staring at him and bowed a proper greeting. What if he was offended! It wasn't even as though he was the first fairy she had seen. Although she had to admit, Alwyn's wings had been a lot more fuzzy-looking, and a lot less intimidating as a result.

It's like the difference between Lilymon and Stingmon, she thought. Oh. Oh I hope Jou and Ken are okay.

"Envoy, if you will step this way, we have the restorative and a private chair waiting for you. On behalf of Their Graces I would like to extend my welcome to the City, and our apologies for the unfortunate nature of your initial reception."

"I…thank you," Mimi said, bowing again. She looked over at Chausiku, who was watching her with a slightly bemused expression. "Thank you for bringing me down here safely, too. I…I suppose I might not see you again, so, um…I hope you all stay safe, and I promise I'll do my very best to help save your world."

Chausiku smiled crookedly. "It's not for us to determine how the future will play out," she said, drumming the barrel of her gun with her fingers. "That's up to the Fates. Or for them to tell at least, according to the old stories. If you were brought here by them somehow for that, then we just have to trust that they knew what they were doing. It's already laid out, for better or worse. Now we just get to live it and find out whether we've been smiled on. Still. I've a hunch I'll be seeing you again."

The fairy cleared his throat. "Wise words, but if you will excuse me, Captain, time is in short supply. Envoy, please follow me."

She followed the fairy who led Mimi into a small room, and rested a hand on her shoulder as he opened a cabinet and pulled out a glass bottle full of a dark red liquid.

"A word, Envoy," she said quietly, pulling her back towards the door a little.

Mimi stared at her. "What?"

Chausiku looked over her shoulder at the fairy, and narrowed her eyes. "He won't say it, being one of the Folk himself, but as one human to another: take care with Their Graces. I don't know what kind of world Earth is these days, but it's clear you're not familiar with the rules. Don't lie. Don't offer them a trade. Don't eat anything they give you. And…try not to look them in the eye, if you can help it. Understood? You—" she cleared her throat, and raised her voice. "You were good company this last few hours, Envoy. I wish you well on your quest."

Mimi turned around to see the fairy had approached, holding out what looked a lot like a silver eggcup. As she took it, Chausiku gently clapped her shoulder again.

"I must return to my patrol. I hope you find what you seek," she added, bowing as she left the room.

Mimi waved her off and leant forward to stare at the tiny cup she was being offered. "What is that?" she asked.

"A restorative as promised, Envoy," the fairy said. He cleared his throat. "I will warn you that the taste is quite strong. It's better to drink it in one."

Mimi nodded. Well here goes nothing, she thought. It's not like I can really say no politely.

Despite her best efforts she couldn't help coughing and spluttering, almost choking as it went down. She shuddered as she handed the cup back to the fairy, whose expression had brightened to a barely contained smile.

"Oh, that was horrible," Mimi said, shaking her head. She blinked. "But I do feel better, so I suppose it was probably worth it."

He nodded. "This way please. Their Graces do not like to be kept waiting, and we must find you more suitable attire for your audience."

Mimi looked down at herself. She didn't think she looked that bad in her school uniform, although it was definitely a little dusty in places. Still, if this fairy seemed to think she needed to dress differently, she probably ought to listen. It wasn't as though she hadn't had to change the way she dressed because of cultural rules before.

Despite the extra energy she'd gained from whatever it was she'd drunk, Mimi was definitely glad to see a chair waiting for her after she was led down several flights of stairs.

"Why are we so far underground?" she asked, rubbing her aching calves as she settled into what looked a lot like a very ornate rickshaw, except instead of a person pulling it there was a strange creature made of what looked like stone.

The fairy from the checkpoint made no move to join her despite the fact it clearly seated two people. He stared, raising his eyebrows and then shaking his head.

"Envoy, it is unsafe to dwell on the surface due to the spreading corruption, and the constant assault from those it has warped. No one wishes to be too close. The upper levels of the city are more dangerous than those further down. More at risk from assault. The world is turned over from what it was in centuries past. There are many beneath the surface who have never ventured up to see the sky, or fly unfettered by ceilings and tunnels."

Mimi swallowed. Never seeing the sky? She couldn't imagine it.

"Well, I guess that's just what we're all here to change then," she said, nodding firmly.

For the first time since she had arrived at the checkpoint, the smile on the fairy's face seemed genuine, if wistful.

"You say it as though it's a certainty," he said, tapping the harness at the front of the rickshaw. "I only wish it were that simple."

The odd stone creature shook itself off and began to move off at walking pace. Mimi twisted awkwardly in her seat to call back at him:

"We'll do it you know! You'll see!"

For an answer he simply waved until she reached a turn in the corridor and pulled out of sight.

Palmon didn't stir in the onbuhimo until she tried to take it off. The attendant who had greeted her when the rickshaw stopped had gone to fetch the tailors, inviting Mimi to wait in her 'chamber'. The room looked like something from a five-star hotel, all marble floors and thick pile rugs. He hadn't spoken to her much other than, in not particularly subtle words, to hint that she ought to bathe before the fittings started.

"…Mimi?" came a tired voice as she laid the onbuhimo down on the bed.

"It's okay Palmon," Mimi said, hugging herself rather than risk crushing Palmon to death in her relief. "We're safe in the City somehow, and they're letting me speak to those Grace people soon. How are you feeling?"

Palmon sat up, looking around the room. "I'll be just fine, Mimi," she said. "You're taking me with you though, right?"

"Of course!" Mimi exclaimed. "Gennai said you'd be better off with me, so I'm not going to let them split us up. I don't care what kind of nonsense they think about digimon here. They'll just have to get used to the way we do things. We are here to save the world, after all."

She was relieved to find a shower in the bathroom as well as a bath and thick, soft towels. Hot water sounded perfect after everything she'd been through. Still, washing with the wounds on her back wasn't going to be an easy process.

"I'll just have to keep my back and arms as dry as I can," she said. "Maybe I can wash my hair over the bath."

Palmon helped in the end, holding the shower head so that Mimi could rinse the dust and dirt from her hair, and scrub the uninjured half of her face. She was forced to leave the bandages on her arms, and the dressings across her back, but reasoned that surely no one could object there. The main issue had been the scratch on her cheek, which even clean water with no soap at all had aggravated. When she looked in a standing mirror in the bathroom, she realised that the entire side of her face had started to look a little puffier than it ought. The scratch was angry and red.

There's nothing I can do about that now, she told herself, putting on the dressing gown which had been laid over the top of hte pile of towels.

Two women were waiting for her when she returned to the main part of the room, both of whom stared at her in dismay.

"What's wrong?" she asked them.

"That wound looks angry and sore," the woman on the left said. As far as Mimi could tell she was human, with streaks of grey running through her brown hair. "Please, sit. I must take a look and ensure it's clean."

"Oh it's fine, really," Mimi said. "Mrs Yagami made sure to clean everything and put anti-bacterial ointment on all the scratches. I really mustn't be late for this meeting. It's so important!"

"What manner of creature was it, which gave you these wounds," the woman went on, as though Mimi hadn't spoken at all. She raised her hand so that it was a few centimetres from Mimi's back. "I can feel the heat coming off them even from here. Spinewolves?"

Mimi blinked. "Those horrible things with the giant spikes on their backs?" she said. "How did you know?"

The woman tsked, and looked over her shoulder at her companion. "Go fetch Althea. We're going to need a real healer if she's going before Their Graces. Can't send her in this state."

"Of course," the other woman said, dipping a curtsy. She scurried out of the room.

"Envoy, the wounds inflicted by those spinewolves are akin to those of the bargheist. They swiftly turn foul unless the poison is flushed out. I don't know what these 'antibiotics' things you speak of are, but unless they're able to counteract the poison within your wounds there will be no recovery. Spinewolves are a corrupted race, far removed from what they once were, and that corruption will spread within you, making these wounds fester unless they are treated. How many are there?"

Mimi swallowed heavily, feeling her legs shake beneath her. She sat down heavily on the bed.

"All…all up my arms and over my back," she said. "They...they attacked my partner. I had to protect her!"

Palmon stared up at her. "Mimi…"

"Well, we've no time to waste," the woman said. "We've only another bell before Their Graces will be ready for you, and we've to treat these wounds and get you dressed before then. It's as well you're not too big. Less sewing to fuss over on the adjustments."

She whipped out a tape measure and quickly took a few basic measurements, nodding to herself as she jotted them down. Once done, she tore off the top page.

"Wait there please, Envoy," she said. "I won't be a moment. It'll be a plain gown, on this notice, but it will do. Unless you'd rather the trousers?"

Mimi shook her head. "I could wear my uniform…"

She trailed off as the woman left the room, muttering something under her breath. It was unsettling to be left almost alone in a strange, unfamiliar city, but before she had a chance to collect her thoughts the second woman was back, bringing with her a man who was dressed in an identical uniform to the soldiers she had met on the surface.

"Greetings," he said, bowing. "My name is Shichiro. I was asked to attend to your wounds as Althea is with a patient at present, and I happened to be off-duty. Do you have an objection? I know there are some who would prefer their healer to be female."

"What do you need to do?" Mimi asked.

He nodded. "Lay healing requires no physical contact, so there's nothing for you to fear. I will call the toxins from your body, into…I was told there were bandages covering most of your wounds? The dressings will need to be changed after, and the wounds cleaned afresh, but with luck it will only take the one healing."

"You should let him, Mimi," Palmon said. "Didn't you get a message from Taichi and the others saying he'd had a healer look at him too? And that woman made it sound like those wolf-creatures are worse than what attacked Taichi."

Mimi nodded, and looked up to see that Shichiro was staring at Palmon. "What is it?" she snapped. "Don't you dare be rude to her. I've heard all about what some of you think of digimon in this world, and you're wrong about them. They're not all mindless monsters you know. Palmon is my partner and she's here to help, just the same as I am."

"I…she is a digimon too?" he said, eyes wide. "I had thought they were all towering monsters who attacked without reason or pause. Perhaps I wasn't overtired and imagining things after all. Tell me, please, what manner of other forms might digimon take? Are they all plant-creatures such as your partner? Or could a digimon also be a creature who…who wears a fur coat and has a single horn on its forehead?"

Mimi's chest had locked up. For a few seconds she was too stunned even to notice the residual ache from the scratches on her back. He…had he…

"You met Gabumon?" she asked. "You met Yamato? She leapt to her feet, clutching Palmon to stop her from being flung to the floor.

"Gabumon…yes! Yes that was what he called the creature. He spoke the truth?"

"Oh! Oh! You did meet Yamato!" Mimi shrieked. She let go of Patamon, who leapt to the floor as she raised her hands, fists clenched with excitement. "Is he here? What happened to him? Was it his phone running out of battery like Hikari's D-Teminal? Oh no wonder Their Graces want to talk to me. We've all been really worried about him you know. I'm so glad he's safe! Please, do tell me where he is!"

The expression on Shichiro's face brought her up sharply. It was somewhere between that of a student who had just learnt that they had failed to study for an imminent test, and a rabbit caught in the headlines of an oncoming car.

"He…he's your friend," he said woodenly, exhaling heavily when Mimi nodded. "He is Chosen? Oh, by the Fates, this is a mess. We apprehended him for trespassing some two or three days ago now, and delivered him to the City dungeons. I've heard no word of any prisoners being released from there since."

The words took a few moments to sink in.

"You…you took him where?" Mimi said, voice shaking with rage. She ignored a gentle rap on the door. "He's in the dungeons?"

The door opened to reveal the first woman, who carried a plain dress over one arm, with a pair of what looked like slippers held in her hand.

"It's as plain as I feared Envoy, but on this short notice it will more than suff…ice.." She trailed off, frowning. "What in all manner of heavens is going on here?"

"We have a change of plans," Mimi snapped, glaring at Shichiro. "I'm going to see those Graces now."