"Stephanie?"
The sweet little voice rang in the brunette's ears, pulling her from the darkness slowly.
Groaning a bit as her senses rebooted, she shifted, noticing a weight on her chest.
'What the…?'
Onyx eyes fluttered open, vision clearing on a strange pink creature.
It looked like a bulb, root-like appendages working like legs beneath the body.
With a little mouth and large green eyes, the most astounding feature was the blue, yellow, and orange flower sprouting from the top of the head.
Frozen in shock at first, the tension drained from her body as she realized it was smiling at her, not even moving to strike.
"Stephanie! You're awake!"
Bouncing up and down, the creature jumped to the ground, beaming as Steph sat up.
"I prefer Steph…" She admitted out of habit, brushing crimson bangs from her eyes.
"And you are…?"
"I'm Yokomon!"
"Yokomon…"
Blinking, she tilted her head, hair falling over her shoulder so the highlights shimmered.
"Why don't I call you Yoko?"
"Okay, Steph!"
Smiling a bit at the enthusiastic Yokomon, Steph looked at her surroundings more closely.
It looked like a subtropical forest, a break in the trees forming the circle she sat in.
Large, colorful flowers covered the broad-leaved bushes, and Steph figured Yokomon used her own flower for camouflage.
"Where am I?"
"The Digital World."
"The Digital World…"
It sounded a bit familiar on her tongue, though she didn't know why…
Gazing up at the clear sky, a vision of the opening clouds flashed before her mind's eye…
"Do you know where the others are?"
"Others?"
"Others like me."
"Oh, I know where they are!"
"Really?"
A smile crossed Steph's face, and she stood up.
"Where?"
"Follow me!"
Jogging after the little creature, she pulled her hair into a ponytail while dodging roots and bushes.
The sound of laughter reached her ears, and the brunette skidded to a halt when the trees receded once more.
"Jen? Mel?"
"Yo, Steph!"
"Stephie!"
Blinking at the creature floating over her older friend's shoulder and the one at the junior's feet, Steph scooped up Yokomon.
"New friends?"
"Yup!"
"Right!"
Grinning, Jenny stood up.
"This is Bukamon."
"And Tanemon!"
"Yokomon."
The pterodactyl-like creature flew around as if to show off, blue eyes looking mischievous beneath the shock of orange hair.
The other looked like a green version of Yokomon, only with four cream-colored, stubby legs and two leaves sprouting from the head.
It had a sweetheart-shaped cream face, with wide brown eyes and a small mouth as well.
"Where are the others?"
"No idea."
"…You two have absolutely no idea, and you're just sitting here?"
"…Basically? Yeah."
"Pretty much."
"…You guys are unbelievable…"
"I know…"
"That's not a good thing, Jen."
"…HEY…"
"Come on, we need to go find the others."
"Fine, fine…"
"Okay…"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Elizabeth? Elizabeth, wake up."
"Lizzy? Are you awake yet?"
"Liz, snap out of it."
Mumbling a bit at the insistent shaking and vocal prodding, amethyst orbs blinked open to see a brown-eyed pink blob peering down at her…
Yelping in surprise, the blonde sat up sharply, sending the creature into her lap.
"Lizzy, you're okay!"
TJ grinned, hugging a short-furred, dark-eyed little white creature to her chest, short legs kicking slightly.
"Me and Tokomon were worried!"
"Do you feel alright?" Meg wondered, an orange-eyed head tucked under her arm.
A curved horn sprouted from its forehead, and the white face looked innocent against the orange.
"I-I'm okay…"
"Thank goodness!"
The little pink, legless, two-armed creature smiled sweetly, standing up so he could face her from the ground.
"We were worried about you!"
"Th-Thanks…?"
"I'm Motimon!"
"M-Motimon…"
Looking up at TJ and her own creature, her photographic memory immediately connected a name with the face.
"T-Tokomon, right?"
"Right!"
Tokomon smiled cutely, his long, wavy ears twitching.
"A-And…?"
"Tsunomon…"
"It's nice to meet you."
"N-Nice to meet you, too…"
Meg sighed, helping Lizzy up onto her feet.
"Wh-Where is everyone?"
"We haven't had the chance to look for them. We found you first."
"I thought you were sleeping…" TJ admitted.
"But you're okay now, right?" Motimon worried, jumping up to hold her hand.
"I-I'm fine, really."
"We need to go look for the others."
Meg took hold of her sister's hand, and motioned for Lizzy to follow her as she walked into the bushes.
'I hope everyone's alright…'
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"OW…My head feels like Jenny went after me with a hammer…AGAIN…"
Groaning, Tonya put her arm over her eyes, feeling grass around her despite her wish to sleep.
"I don't even remember WHY she was chasing me with a hammer…Then again, she did hit me on the head with it…"
"Tonya?"
Blinking into her forearm at the unfamiliar voice, she removed the appendage and stared at whatever decided to rest on her chest.
It looked like a pink head…
With red eyes…
And sharp teeth…
Eyes widening as it smiled, it bounced, long wavy ears flapping wildly.
"You're awake! You're awake!"
"…OKAY…And why are you on top of me?"
"Oh, sorry!"
He jumped off, allowing the redhead to sit up as he continued what Tonya figured was a head's version of a happy dance.
"I was just so excited that you're finally here! I've been waiting for you!"
"Waiting for me? And who are you?"
"I'm Koromon! I'm your friend!"
"Okay…"
Mind spinning, Tonya shook her head and stood up.
"Do you know where my friends are?"
Her promise to watch out for them rang clearly through her mind, and she was getting desperate.
"Yup! This way!"
"Lead the way, Koromon!"
Grinning, Tonya ran after the strange creature, noting how fast he could go without legs.
Managing to keep up, she heard some kind of roar shake the air before skidding to a halt.
"Tonya? What's wrong?" Koromon wondered.
"Didn't you hear that roar just now?"
"No…"
Brow furrowing, Tonya tried to focus on hearing it again, and a strange buzzing reached her ears…
'What is that?'
Koromon watched her carefully, ears raised, and paused.
"…Tonya…"
"What?"
"We need to go…"
"WHY…?"
Suddenly, the roar sounded MUCH too close for comfort, shaking the trees around her, and Tonya's ears rang as leaves fell around her.
"KOROMON!"
"It's Kuwagamon!"
'Well, THAT doesn't sound good!'
Crashing sounded to her left, and a flash of red was her only warning before a large beetle, with scissor jaws, busted through the trunks of wood.
Crying out, Tonya jumped to shield Koromon, splinters raining down on them.
"I SEE you…"
Head snapping up, she looked around warily, a dark shadow moving through the leaves…
'Not good-Not good-NOT GOOD-!'
Something leapt from the bushes, and Tonya shielded Koromon before instinctively kicking out at what seemed to be the face.
A screech of pain, and she blinked as the form stopped moving, holding their nose.
It looked like a semi-human girl, compact and with four spider legs sprouting from her back.
When she uncovered her face to hiss, Tonya took a step back at the sight of six eyes…
"Oh CRAP…"
"It's a Spirit Evolution!"
"A WHAT?"
"You little WORM! How dare you?!"
"EXCUSE ME?"
Glaring, Tonya flexed her fists as Koromon jumped onto her shoulder.
"You want to repeat that, bloodsucker?"
"DIE!"
"Crud…"
Leaping to avoid the tackle, she slid on her shoes, wincing as dust flew up into her eyes, and hugged Koromon to her chest.
Beginning to run from the attack, and the very MASSIVE red beetle, the redhead tried to avoid roots and bushes and low branches…
"Tonya, we can't run! We have to fight!"
"Are you kidding me? SHE'S LIKE A GIANT FUCKING SPIDER WITH A MASSIVE PET BEETLE!!!"
"We can do it!"
"You know, I don't think you heard me-!"
The tree beside her was smashed to smithereens, and Tonya cried out as she stumbled away, still going at full speed.
"Come back to the spider's web, little fly!"
The spider-girl cackled, running after then on the four long spider's legs.
"Screw that idea!"
Leaping over a boulder, she landed awkwardly before scrambling out into a clearing, falling to her knees.
Panting as she clutched the Digimon to her chest, her hair fell to shield her from the harsh sun.
"Koromon…"
"What? Are you okay?"
"My leg hurts…" She admitted, hissing as she shifted it.
"They're coming…You need to run…"
"Tonya-!"
"Get the others…I'll be fine."
Practically tossing the pink head away from the danger, she managed to stand, knee almost buckling as pain shot up like white-hot electricity.
"Tonya!"
"GO!" She growled, turning to take the force of the spider-girl's pounce.
Wrestling and rolling along the ground, trying to block three pairs of arms and stop from getting kicked, she left a clear path for Koromon to run off.
"Got to find them-Got to find them!"
A roar followed him from Kuwagamon as trees fell and splintered, causing the little head to speed up.
"Just hold on, Tonya! I'll come back for you!"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"This way!"
"M-Motimon, slow down!"
"Tokomon, does he really know where he's going?"
"Maybe…"
"Yokomon, be careful!"
"Bukamon, stop showing off!"
"I can't! I'm just that good!"
"I'll show YOU!"
"Guys, stop fighting!"
BAM!!!
CRASH!!!
FALL!!!
"…Hey, guys…"
"Took you long enough to find us…"
"Don't start with me, Jenny…"
"A-Are you alright?"
"Teenagers can be so weird, right Tokomon?"
"Definitely."
"HEY…"
Steph sighed, smiling at her friends as they all detangled, eventually introducing their little creatures.
"Okay…What are you guys, anyway?"
The six little creatures grinned, sharing a look.
"We're Digimon! Digital Monsters!" They chorused.
Everyone blinked, absorbing this information, as Lizzy fiddled with the strap on her laptop bag.
"Wh-What now?"
"We still have one person left to find." Meg pointed out.
This had the others looking out to see that they were, indeed, missing a member of their group…
"Tonya…"
Mel looked worried, wringing her hands, as even Jenny turned concerned.
They were in an unfamiliar place, and Tonya was all alone…
Well, if she had a Digimon too, then not TOTALLY alone…
Still, she could be hurt!
They all knew that they wouldn't even be friends if it hadn't been for the social, klutzy redhead that had pulled them together.
Most of them were too different, but she held them together somehow…
If she was hurt…
"HELP!"
All heads turned to see a little pink head fly from the bushes, crimson eyes wide as he hopped around, shouting about something urgently.
"What's wrong, Koromon?" Yokomon wondered.
"Tonya's in trouble! Kuwagamon and his Spirit Evolution are after her! COME ON!"
That had the group on edge, and Meg stepped forward.
"Where is she?!"
"Follow me!"
And they did, running as fast as legs could possibly go.
"TONYA!!!" TJ shouted, feeling the fear in the air.
"COME ON, RED! WHERE ARE YOU?!" Jenny yelled, Bukamon struggling to keep up with her.
Steph managed to maintain the lead, her extracurricular sports giving her the stamina to keep up the pace as Yokomon hopped after her.
'Be okay-BE OKAY-!'
Meg still had Tsunomon tucked under her arm, and she couldn't help tightening her grip in worry…
'Damn it, Tonya…'
Lizzy was struggling to keep up, with Motimon still gripping her hand, as Mel raced just ahead of her, Tanemon on her heels.
They wouldn't slow down, COULDN'T slow down, no matter how hard their hearts worked or how exhausted they became…
A shout reached them, and they exploded into a clearing, staring in shock at the strange spider girl pinning Tonya to a tree.
"GUYS!"
Koromon jumped forward first, looking determined to help.
"Bubble Blow!"
The girl shrieked as the little bubbles burst on contact, pushing her away as the redhead slid to the ground, a dark bruise already forming on her shin.
"TONYA!"
TJ skidded to a halt as a string of web cut her path off, and Tokomon bared shark-like teeth as the 'Spirit Evolution'.
Kuwagamon landed heavily, roaring, behind his little 'partner', and the group backed away, Tonya limping only slightly to join the others.
Scratches covered her arms and face, and some slightly-bleeding cuts bled lazily down her legs.
"Worthless creatures!" The spider-girl hissed.
"I'll kill you and feed you to Kuwagamon!"
"You know, that doesn't sound very appealing…" Jenny admitted, smiling cheekily.
"How about you go find a nice squirrel to snack on instead? We'll just be going…"
Kuwagamon's roar made her jump, and his back opened to reveal already-buzzing wings…
"…CRAP…" Mel voiced, eyes wide.
"You said it…" Steph agreed.
Lizzy acted on instinct, grabbing Mel and Jenny's hands.
"R-RUN!"
No one argued, and the evil girl's evil laughter bounced off the trees behind them…
"You can't run from us! Get them, Kuwagamon!"
Splintering wood and thundering collisions with the ground followed them, coming too close for comfort, and Meg's icy eyes flashed.
"GET DOWN!"
Hitting the ground on their stomachs, shielding or being shielded by their Digimon, everyone winced as Kuwagamon flew just over them.
He missed, making air rush over their skin, and TJ lifted her head.
"She's coming!"
"Get up!" Tonya urged, pulling Steph to her feet.
"We need to go! GO!"
A stampede once more as their hunter landed just behind where they'd been, still cackling in an almost insane manner.
"Jeez, what's got HER legs in a knot?!" Jenny joked, Bukamon chuckling over her shoulder.
"Not now, Jenny!!" Meg shot back, helping her sister along.
"Sorry for trying to lighten the mood!!"
"Not the time, Jen!!" Mel replied.
"It's NEVER the time!!"
"JEN!!"
Lizzy managed to pull her out of the way of a web net, which just barely missed her foot.
"Whoa! Thanks, Liz!"
"Guys, he's coming back!"
Steph pulled the two youngest to the ground with her as the others followed her example, missing his claws again.
TJ tried to get up, crying out when the spider-girl grabbed her leg, dangling the poor girl upside-down.
"You'll make a good appetizer."
"MEGGIE!"
"Let her go!"
With a snarl that sent a chill down her opponent's spine, Meg pounced, knocking the wind from the girl's lungs.
TJ scrambled away, looking worried and frightened as Tokomon tried to soothe her, when Tonya grabbed Meg's arm.
"Come ON! Her giant bug is on his way back!"
Seeming to restrain her rage, the black-haired girl released her 'prey', following on the group's heels.
Steph steered them towards a break in the trees, skidding to a halt once past the underbrush to see a cliff jutting out ahead.
The others stopped at her sides, and Tonya moved forward in a rush to see if they could climb down.
Peeking over the edge, she growled to herself, seeing the river so far below, and a canyon that was taller, making the Cliffside too steep to climb.
"It's too steep!"
"W-We'll need to find another way…"
"Oh, that's nice…WHAT OTHER WAY?!"
Trees crashed behind them as Kuwagamon made himself known, flying just over the teens, who dropped to their knees in surprise.
Tonya shook her clothes off, looking up at Kuwagamon before turning her head towards her friends.
"We need to get out of here…"
Spotting the spider girl, the redhead stood up, wincing as all her limbs protested.
"GUYS-!"
Kuwagamon's roar cut her off, and she couldn't move fast enough to avoid his next swipe…
"Bubble Blow!"
Koromon shot after jumping off her shoulder, and the large bug screeched, knocking the small Digimon out of the air.
"KOROMON!"
Steph cried out as she was pounced on, and fought off the long spider's legs before kicking her in the gut.
"STEPH!"
But Kuwagamon was headed for them again, and Steph seemed in no immediate danger…
"Digimon, attack!" Yokomon ordered, jumping up with the rest.
"BUBBLE BLOW!"
Shrieking, he knocked them all to the ground, falling into the trees, as Mel grabbed a broken branch and knocked the spider-girl off Steph.
The Spirit Evolution was hit into the underbrush, and nothing stirred for a long moment before Tonya's worried voice cut through the air…
"KOROMON!"
Everything came back in vivid color and sound, causing Meg's eyes to widen…
"Tsunomon…"
"TOKOMON!"
TJ raced to the little Digimon's side, and Lizzy fell to her knees in order to scoop up Motimon…
"M-Motimon…M-Motimon, wake up…"
"Bukamon? Come on, little guy…"
Jenny scooped up the grey Digimon, tapping his nose in the hopes of spotting his bright blue eyes…
"He didn't hit you that hard, right?"
"Tanemon? Are you okay? Speak to me…" Mel begged, holding her to her chest so hard she wondered if the little creature would absorb into her heart.
"Yoko…Yoko, open your eyes…" Steph pleaded under her breath, slightly shaking the little flowered Digimon.
"Come on…You can wake up…"
Tonya held up Koromon in her arms, gold eyes assessing for injuries…
"Crazy little Koro…"
"I'm sorry, Tonya…Are you okay?"
"I'm fine…" She muttered, eyes lowering.
"But are you?"
"Yeah…Just a little sore…"
"Good…"
Meg stood up, eyes closing as she managed to hear something from the forest at her back…
"Guys, they're back."
Tree trunks flew through the air as Kuwagamon roared, and the spider-girl cackled as the teens raced for the edge of the cliff.
Facing them with their Digimon held to their chests, the girls trembled as the red beetle roared into the air like a lion.
"Fools…Hungry, Kuwagamon? Which would you prefer?"
Claws snapping together and wings buzzing with excitement, Kuwagamon looked like an thrilled rabid dog.
"Alright, then…I'll feast on the Digimon…"
TJ whimpered, hiding behind her sister as they took menacing steps forward, and Tonya took a look at all of her friend's terrified faces…
"No."
Everything seemed to pause for a moment, before the spider-girl hissed.
"You dare deny Arachnia?"
"Yes, I do."
Her eyes were on fire, pupils seeming to narrow as the redhead took a step forward as if to protect the group.
"If you so much as touch any of them, I'll make you wish you were never born."
"Is that so?"
A malevolent grin spread across Arachnia's face, and she seemed to bristle…
"We'll see…"
Her charm glowed for that split second before Koromon jumped out of her arms, standing between them.
"NO!"
This startled all present, but the Digimon joined him in earnest, their determination fueling their small forms.
"If you want to get to them, you'll have to go through us!"
The others agreed wholeheartedly, and deadly fangs appeared from Arachnia's mouth.
"Certainly…You'll make a wonderful snack…"
She lunged, and none of the girls could hold back the instinct to try and protect the brave Digimon.
"NO!!!"
The strange devices that were attached to their belts seemed to shine lights through their screens, and everything froze.
Sky darkening, that familiar dark whirlpool opened up, sending down seven colored columns of light to surround each Digimon.
There was a bright flash of radiance, and each of them felt something almost FAMILIAR wash over them…
"Koromon, Digivolve to…AGUMON!!"
"Yokomon, Digivolve to…BIYOMON!!"
"Motimon, Digivolve to…TENTOMON!!"
"Tsunomon, Digivolve to…GABUMON!!"
"Tokomon, Digivolve to…PATAMON!!"
"Bukamon, Digivolve to…GOMAMON!!"
"Tanemon, Digivolve to…PALMON!!"
"WHOA…" Jenny voiced, eyes wide.
"What happened?" TJ wondered, looking up at her sister.
"I don't know…"
"They got…BIGGER…" Mel noted.
Tonya stared in shock at the yellow dinosaur-like creature before her, and blinked…
"Agumon…"
"Fools!"
"Pepper Breath!"
The ball of fire had Arachnia falling back, and Kuwagamon rushed forward to defend her.
"Blue Blaster!"
"Spiral Twister!"
Shrieking as his helmet began to burn, he took steps back, Gomamon sliding to knock him onto one knee.
"Poison Ivy!"
Holding Kuwagamon in place, Palmon watched Patamon and Tentomon take to the air as Agumon and Gabumon turned on Arachnia with Biyomon.
"Boom Bubble!"
"Super Shocker!"
Helmet seeming to burst into flame, Kuwagamon screeched in pain as Arachnia tried to fend off the three Digimon herding her away from her partner.
"Blue Blaster!"
"Spiral Twister!"
Dodging with some difficulty, the blue-haired girl was surprised by Agumon's sure aim.
"Pepper Breath!"
With the girl successfully incapacitated, the three joined their friends, ready to defeat the massive Digimon.
"All together! Pepper Breath!"
"Blue Blaster!"
"Spiral Twister!"
"Boom Bubble!"
"Super Shocker!"
Palmon released Kuwagamon before the attacks struck, and his whole torso burst into flame before he fell amid the trees, seemingly defeated.
Breathless as the Digimon turned back to face their partners, Mel grinned.
"Palmon…Pal!"
"Mel!"
Catching her as Palmon leapt into her arms, the brunette spun around before setting the Digimon down.
"G-Gosh…"
Lizzy watched in amazement as Tentomon landed before her, looking up at her in curiosity before taking hold of her hand.
"Lizzy?"
"I-I'm alright, Tento…"
"Jeez, Gomamon! You couldn't have done more?"
Jenny smiled to show her playful intent, lifting Gomamon so he could hang onto her shoulder.
"You know what? I'll call you Goma-Goma from now on!"
"Why?"
"I don't know. It sounds fun."
As they laughed, TJ giggled when Patamon landed on her head, wings spread wide and looking proud.
"Did you see my Boom Bubble?"
"You were great, Pat!"
"Steph, are you okay?" Biyomon worried, landing before her partner with worried blue eyes.
"I'm alright…Biyo."
Smiling, the brunette patted the bird Digimon's head.
"Thanks…"
"You're welcome, Steph." Biyomon chirped, rubbing against her partner like a feathered cat.
"Wow, Gabumon…You were…"
Looking down at the Digimon's patient eyes, Meg couldn't find the right words, and shrugged in feigned indifference.
"You were okay…"
"As long as you're alright, it doesn't matter." Gabumon assured, leaning against her hip.
"…Yeah…Thanks, Gabu…"
"Agu, you were great!"
Tonya grinned, running to meet the Digimon's embrace halfway.
Hefting him into her arms, she bounced excitedly, spinning in place as Agumon laughed.
Setting him down, she crouched at eye level.
"Thanks, Agu. You saved my ass."
"No problem, Tonya. You did the same for me."
"Aw…I wasn't as great as you…"
Unfortunately, the happy reunion didn't last long, since Kuwagamon reared his ugly head, Arachnia riding on his neck.
Everyone scrambled back on instinct before his long claws pierced the ground, making a crack that went straight to both end of the cliff horizontally.
The rock moved ominously beneath their feet, and TJ whimpered before gripping her sister's arm.
"Oh no…"
Once the ground fell away, there was that one moment of weightlessness, when they all shared a look, gripping the Digimon or person closest to them in fear…
Tonya locked eyes with a malicious Arachnia the moment before gravity took hold of her gut, and she plummeted after the others, screaming…