"Digimon eat and Digimon fight-Digimon Digivolve and fight all night!"
"Ninety-nine bottles of beer on the wall! Ninety-nine bottles of beers!"
TJ and Mel giggled as they sang to pass the time, as did Tonya and Jenny, who joined in on the fun.
Meg and Steph didn't, just smiled, and Lizzy was busy keeping them on a straight course.
"Why don't you sing something, Mel?"
"Oh, I couldn't…"
"Come on, Mel!" Palmon encouraged.
"Alright…If you insist…"
The brunette smiled, thinking through the songs she knew…
"Someday/When we are wiser/When the world's older/When we have learned/I pray/Someday we may yet live/To live and let live/Someday/Life will be fairer/Need will be rarer/Greed will not pay/God speed/This bright millennium/On its way/Let it come/Someday…"
As the words bounced off the damp walls, the group fell silent to hear…
"Someday/Our fight will be won then/We'll stand in the sun then/That bright afternoon/Till then/On days when the sun is gone/We'll hang on/Wish upon the moon…"
Palmon looked up at her partner in awe, not realizing such a powerful, melodic voice could come from the sixteen year old…
"There are some days dark and bitter/Seems we haven't got a prayer/But a prayer for someday better/Is the one thing we all share…"
Volume rising and falling like the ocean tides, Mel closed her eyes…
"Someday/When we are wiser/When the world's older/When we have learned/I pray/Someday we may yet live/To live and let live/Someday/Life will be fairer/Need will be rarer/Greed will not pay/God speed/This bright millennium/Let it come/Wish upon the moon/One day/Someday/Soon…"
It was like a spell had broken, and everyone blinked free of the trance as Mel tilted her head.
"You guys always get those weird looks on your face when I sing. Did I do bad?"
"Nope!" Palmon assured, taking hold of her partner's hand.
"That was amazing!"
"Aw, I'm not that good…"
"You have a better voice than the Gekomon." Gomamon added.
"Gekomon?"
"Never mind…"
"…It reminds me of home…" Steph admitted, features turning sad.
The aura around the group turned, and the others soon turned to things they missed from home…
"It makes me think of when mom would make me practice, and I'd put on music so I could sing along…"
"I remember just sitting in front of the TV to watch Batman, and Kat would just lean on my shoulder…"
"I miss my dad's barbeque steak…" Meg admitted.
"I miss when mommy and daddy would tuck me in at night…"
TJ almost sniffled as her sister put an arm around her shoulders in order to comfort.
"I-I liked sitting up in my room and just surfing the net…"
"I remember Missy's face after my pranks…and I miss my pranks…"
Mel looked at her friends, feeling guilty that she'd accidentally caused the gloom to fall over their faces, and hid her own.
"But if we were home, we'd never be on this great adventure! Right?"
"…Right." Tonya agreed, starting to smile.
"And we'd never have met our Digimon, or had so much fun! Don't you remember all the laughs we've shared?"
TJ smiled, nodding, as Patamon sat on her head.
"I mean, Meg, wouldn't you be upset if you'd never met Gabumon?"
"Yeah…"
"Steph, wouldn't you feel bad if you'd never flown with Biyomon?"
"You've got a point…"
"Haven't you had fun with Gomamon, Jenny? Telling jokes and playing?"
"I admit, he isn't so bad…"
"HEY…"
"And isn't this place so amazing, Lizzy? There's so many new things to learn and puzzles to figure out, and it's never boring."
"Y-You're right…"
"This place is so beautiful and different and exciting that I'm surprised we can even have TIME to think about home."
Everyone seemed to have lightened up, and the Digimon were thankful that the depressed air had lifted.
Palmon looked up at her partner, pausing as she saw the same sadness hidden in the normally bright emerald eyes.
"Mel?"
"Huh?"
Blinking, Mel pulled on a forced smile, taking hold of her partner's hand as they continued to walk.
"Oh, there's nothing to worry about, Pal. Everything's fine now."
'I'm not so sure of that…'
TJ skidded to a halt, looking confused, before covering her nose.
"EW! What's that smell?"
"Oh no…"
Gomamon, sitting on his partner's shoulder, gripped her face so Jenny faced him.
"We've got to go!"
"What for? And would you let go of my face?!"
"The Numemon are coming!" Agumon warned.
"Numemon?"
"What are they?" Steph wondered, wary as the smell grew steadily stronger.
"They're disgusting Digimon that live down here in the sewers." Her partner explained.
"Wh-What about their partners?"
"They're rat Spirit Evolutions usually…" Tentomon answered his partner.
Meg put a hand over her nose, her sensitive nostrils burning already…
"Are you sure they don't need soap?"
"Maybe they just want cheese?"
"Well, it looks like we're about to find out." Tonya noted, taking a step back as splashing footsteps reached them.
"We need to go!" Patamon encouraged, taking flight and pulling his partner's hand.
"Why?" Mel wondered.
"Are they strong?"
"No, but they stink!" The orange-winged Digimon admitted.
"That's not a good excuse." The brunette replied.
"You'll see when they get closer." Palmon assured.
"I don't WANT to see them close-up…" Steph muttered.
Shadowy forms could be seen up ahead, and they tried to back away…
The little green Digimon came into view first, followed by their dirty-skinned, black-masked, rat-tailed partners.
They definitely weren't like Scavenger at all it seemed, they seemed more intent on at least driving them away…
"RUN!"
Agumon pulled his partner into a run, and the others followed instinctively, racing across the damp 'sidewalk'.
"If they're weak, why do we have to run?" TJ wondered, being pulled along at her sibling's speed.
"I hope you don't find out!" Her partner shouted.
"Nume-Sludge!"
Mel ducked as a pink blob flew over her head, striking the damp wall on her left.
Crying out at the disgusting mess, she picked up speed, Palmon almost tripping to keep up.
"This way!" Steph shouted, leading them into a pipe that branched off from their own.
It was a bit narrower, and inclined, but none of them slowed as they raced ahead.
Skittering sounds reached them as the clawed feet of the rat-people skidded to a halt in order to follow.
Light appeared at the end of the tunnel, and Steph managed to break out in front of the group, leading them out into the sunlight.
They came out of the side of a cliff, leading to a rather wide walkway carved into the rock.
Before them was a grassy prairie, with a canopy of trees highlighting the horizon.
A few yards to their right was a earth 'sidewalk' leading down from their walkway across the prairie, gradually declining until it disappeared past their field of vision.
Screeches hit their ears like harsh hail, and they all whirled around to see the Numemon and their partners retreating into the darkness.
"The only thing that's able to drive them away is the sunshine…" Agumon explained.
"Well, good riddance!" Jenny stated, huffing.
"Come on. We should keep moving, or they'll come back at night." Meg reminded.
"W-We shouldn't let them ambush us while we're sleeping."
The group went over the stone pathway, and followed it out onto the prairie, intending on putting some distance between themselves and the sewers.
The sun steadily rose in the sky as they marched, and Mel looked around in mild concern.
She had a feeling something might happen…
It was passing noon, and something caught her eye in the distance, and the brunette picked up the pace a bit.
"What's that?"
"Don't know…" Steph admitted.
They stopped in surprise only minutes later, staring, wide-eyed, at the field of vending machines on their right-hand side…
Pepsi, Doritos, Cheetohs, M&Ms, and Mountain Dew littered the fronts, and Lizzy tilted her head in curiosity.
"Wh-Why are these here?"
"They're not even plugged in…" Jenny whined, looking dejected.
"Maybe they're like the phone booths and all that other stuff…" Tonya suggested.
"You mean we'll be attacked?" Meg retorted.
"No, maybe they WORK. The Digital World is weird like that, Meg."
"We could get candy!" TJ agreed.
"Let's just check it out…" Mel decided.
The group hesitantly stepped down from the safety of their natural road, beginning to move amid the colorful machines.
Mel took hold of her partner's hand for comfort, mainly following Palmon as she studied the vending machines.
"Pal?"
"Yeah?"
"…I've wondered…What do Digimon think is beautiful?"
Palmon looked up at her in curiosity, and Mel smiled almost shyly, looking away.
"I was just wondering…I mean, this place is so wonderful…Do you guys notice?"
"We notice beauty by kindness. The kinder someone is, the more beautiful they seem."
Blinking, Mel gazed up at the clear blue sky…
"…I guess Lizzy and TJ and Steph looked beautiful then, right?"
"All of you do…"
"Oh, you're just saying that to make me feel better."
Mel forced a smile, giggling a bit before tugging her partner faster, hoping to distract from the conversation.
"Want to see if this one works? Maybe you'd like a Snickers."
"Sure…What's that?"
"It's a candy bar."
Stopping in front of one, Mel slipped in some quarters from her pocket, crouching down to her partner's level.
"Pick which one you want, Pal."
After a moment of thought, the plant Digimon pressed a button, and they took a step back to wait for the treat to drop down.
A strange grinding sound reached them, and Mel looked a bit concerned until the front of the machine fell forward.
Yelping in fright, she picked Palmon up and backed out of range, wincing as the metal hit grass.
Looking inside, she was surprised to see it was hollow…
Well, hollow besides the Numemon and his Spirit Evolution within…
Unlike his fellows, he was tall and muscular, with a white mask and ears, with light hair.
He moved fluidly, and she gasped as he wrapped an arm around her waist, almost pulling the teen off her feet.
Blushing at the close proximity, she put her hands on his chest, feeling his blue-eyed gaze on her.
"This is flattering and all, but I think this is a little sudden…"
Palmon grabbed her partner's arm, pulling her from the silent Spirit Evolution as the others began to converge, worried about the clang and yelp.
"Well, cutie, my buddy Ace here likes you. A LOT."
Everyone's gaze turned to the hidden Numemon, and twelve pairs of eyes turned to Mel.
"Jeez…Got an admirer already, girl?" Jenny joked.
"I didn't mean to…"
"Maybe this whole thing is a misunderstanding…?" Steph suggested.
Mel looked from her friends to Ace, unsure how to handle the situation, and sighed.
"Um…I'm flattered at the thought, but I don't think I'm really ready for that kind of commitment."
Palmon nodded, moving to stand in front of her partner…
Ace seemed to stare at her for a long moment before looking back at his partner, and they communicated in silence.
Jenny put a hand on her younger friend's shoulder, hoping to comfort her.
"Too bad you don't think so, sweetcheeks."
Meg tensed, hands fisted in preparation for a fight as Tonya almost lowered herself into a crouch…
"Get 'em, guys!"
The other vending machines began opening, and Lizzy backed away in slight fright.
"B-But you guys can't come out into the sunlight!"
A soft rumble reached them, and the group looked up to see the sun hiding behind thick gray clouds…
"…Th-Then again…"
"RUN!" Steph shouted, grabbing Lizzy as everyone bolted away.
Swerving through the field of vending machines, with more and more Numemon and rat Spirit Evolutions on their tails, they broke out towards the forest.
It was still a decent run away, but Meg looked back to see that they couldn't get away as they were.
"We need to split up!"
"Are you crazy? It's always the funny one that gets killed first!"
"Then you should be fine, Jenny!"
"HEY!"
"Just split up!" Tonya shouted.
As everyone split off, Mel picked up the pace, lifting Palmon off her feet so they could move faster.
"Mel, watch out!"
Yelping, she ducked under a Nume-Sludge, and leaped behind a tree for protection.
Hugging Palmon to her chest as she leaned heavily against the trunk, she closed her eyes at the heavy hammering of blows on the bark.
"Pal, what are we gonna do?"
Looking up at her partner, the Digimon couldn't help wincing as wood splintered beneath a particularly heavy blow…
"…Let me down, Mel."
"But Pal-."
"Let me down."
Carefully doing so, the brunette slid down to sit amid the tree roots, watching her partner jump out of hiding.
"Poison Ivy-!"
There were cries of fear, and the green-eyed teen peeked out to see that their pursuers were fleeing.
"Pal, you did it!"
"But…I didn't do anything…"
"…Then why did they run?"
Something shook the ground from behind them, and the pair jumped, whirling around to face whoever had snuck up on them.
"It's Monzaemon and Whiteflash."
Monzaemon looked like a tall, stoic teddy bear, his partner a lanky, muscled man.
He had dark black hair and red eyes, with a wolf's ears and tail like Fang, and what looked like a mace strapped to his back.
"Pal…Are they good?"
"They always have been."
Monzaemon's eyes began to glow, and Mel's widened…
"Maybe there's an exception today…"
Lasers struck the ground at their feet, and the brunette hefted up her partner once more, racing away.
"Why is it that every Digimon we meet tries to kill us?!"
"It's just bad luck!!"
CRACK!!!
"REALLY bad luck!!!"
Bursting out of the trees and practically flying over the shin-high grass, Mel almost yelped when her foot met thin air.
She was caught from her head-over-heels tumble, and looked up in surprise at Ace's emotionless mask as Palmon landed on her chest.
Before the brunette could say anything, he covered her mouth, crouching down in the ditch beside his Numemon partner.
Before Mel could think of a protest, the pounding footsteps of Monzaemon reached them through the earth…
Ace shielded with his body, intent on hiding their scent with his own and Numemon's, making it seem like a sewage leak.
The partners passed over them as if the four weren't there, and continued on their way.
Once the tremors faded, Mel managed to breathe, sitting up.
"You alright, Pal?"
"I'm okay…But what was that?"
"I don't know…"
Managing to stand, she peeked out to see Monzaemon and Whiteflash heading towards some trees, with the roofs of buildings in the distance.
"That's Toy Town."
"…What about the others?"
Ace looked to his partner, who jumped up to catch their attention.
"We saw 'em get carted away by Monzaemon."
"Captured?"
Green eyes filling with worry, she looked down at Palmon.
"Do you think they'd take the others to Toy Town?"
"Probably."
Mel looked thoughtful, turning to stare out at Toy Town…
"Then we're going to save them."
Before Palmon could protest, the brunette had already turned to Ace and his Numemon.
"Thank you for helping us. I owe you one."
Smiling sweetly, she then pulled herself out of the ditch, helping up Palmon before they headed off.
"What IS Toy Town?" She wondered as they managed to enter the trees.
"It's a place Monzaemon and Whiteflash made for all the abandoned Digimon toys. When they're given up, they find a home there."
"Really?"
Mel looked up at the sky…
"…I wonder why they'd take the others, then…"
"We'll find out when we get there..."
Colorful buildings rose up, and yellow bricks lead into Toy Town, and the pair followed the streets.
"It's kinda cute…"
"We'd better keep a look-out, Mel. We wouldn't want to get snuck-up on."
"Right…"
Making sure to keep her guard up, Mel stopped when she saw someone running towards them from up the road.
Tilting her head in confusion at the sight of Tonya, she watched her being chased by what seemed like a strange…
Toy?
'Why would Tonya be running from a toy?'
If the toy was annoying her, Tonya could have easily avoided it, or perhaps have merely knocked it over.
She wouldn't have been…
Playing…
Hitting the brakes, both watched her run by, giving an empty laugh…
"She's like a ZOMBIE…"
"Where's Agumon? I've never seen them apart like this before…"
Both partners shared an anxious glance…
"I've got a BAD feeling about this, Pal…Something is wrong here…"
They blinked when they saw Meg run by, being chased by a toy train and…
SMILING?
"…Something is DEFINITELY wrong here…"
"Amen to THAT…"
Steph, Jenny, Lizzy, TJ…
They all seemed devoid of emotion and life…
Mel was concerned, feeling antsy and fidgety, and sped up the pace…
Like she could feel the same fate threatening to befall her…
"Where are all the Digimon?" Palmon worried.
"Why? Is it really bad?"
"If we go too far from our partners, we pull at our bond…It hurts both of us…"
Her heart tightened at the thought of being separated from her Digimon and causing Palmon pain…
"Well, we'll just have to make sure not to get separated."
Smiling reassuringly, she took hold of Palmon's hand and sped up, looking through the windows of buildings they passed.
Something rattled in one darkened shop, and they looked inside to see a dusty store, with dirty sheets covering old furniture.
A chest rattled within, roughly up to her hip with a heavy metal lock on the front.
"What's that?"
The muffled cries of familiar voices had both of them on alert…
"It's the Digimon!"
Managing to open the door in her haste, Mel led the way inside, skidding to a halt onto her knees.
Pulling on the lock in a vain attempt to open it, she looked up at Palmon in defeat.
"Agumon, are you guys in there?!"
"Yes, we're in here!"
"What's wrong? Why can't you break yourselves out?"
"Whiteflash put collars on us after Monzaemon used his Hearts Attack. They stop us from using our attacks and hypnotize our partners." Gabumon's voice explained.
"So he got everyone?" Palmon wondered.
"Yeah!" Biyomon shouted.
"Maybe we could get you out and get the collars off-."
"No! The collars won't get off until Monzaemon and Whiteflash are defeated!"
Mel froze, turning to look her partner in the eyes as the implications soaked in…
"You want us to…?"
"You must defeat Monzaemon and Whiteflash." Tentomon answered.
Putting a hand on her green charm and gazing down at the matching device on her hip, she bit her lip worriedly.
"…What if I…we can't?"
"You will." Patamon assured.
Palmon put a hand on her partner's shoulder, looking more sure than she felt, channeling Mel's need to help others.
"We can do it, Mel. I'll make sure of it."
After a moment, the brunette nodded, standing and heading for the door.
"Right…We'll be back for you guys."
Marching out into the streets, she became a girl on a mission, intent on finding Monzaemon and saving her friends.
Palmon jogged to keep up, feeling the teen's determination and mild frustration.
"Mel?"
"We need to save the others, Pal. If we don't…"
Her pace slowed to a stop, and her eyes filled with tears…
"I'm just not strong enough, Pal…I'm sorry…"
"Don't talk like that!"
Almost jumping at Palmon's shout, the brunette turned to look down with surprised, glittering emerald eyes.
"Pal?"
"If you keep talking like that, I'll…I don't know what I'll do, but I'll definitely be crying!"
Palmon looked close to tears as well, but held them back vehemently.
"You're such a great person, Mel! If only you'd see how strong you really are!"
"…"
The tears spilled over, and she held back a soft sob before pulling the Digimon into a hug.
"I just don't feel strong…I'm just glad you believe in me, Pal…"
"I'll always believe in you…"
Straightening, they dried their eyes and then continued moving, searching for Monzaemon and Whiteflash…
Pounding footsteps, and they whirled around to see the giant stuffed Digimon and his partner.
Finding her courage, Mel stepped forward, clearly unhappy…
"I want you to free my friends and their Digimon RIGHT NOW!"
"Or else!"
Neither seemed intimidated by the angry looks, and Monzaemon's eyes glowed as his partner pulled of his heavy mace.
"Uh oh…"
Lasers flew and Whiteflash charged, moving inhumanly fast as the pair turned tail and ran.
"I never thought I'd be chased by a giant stuffed bear!"
"There's a first time for everything!"
Mel looked over her shoulder, eyes widening as she saw Whiteflash jumped up, bringing his mace back for a powerful swing at her head.
Everything seemed to move in slow motion as she whirled around, pulling Palmon behind her as the heavy weapon began to swing down…
Suddenly, Ace tackled him out of thin air, and the other rat Spirit Evolutions jumped on him as well.
The Numemon jumped in the way as well, throwing Nume-Sludge at Monzaemon.
Mel and Palmon shared a surprised look, and took a step back at the fight brewing.
"They came to help us…" The brunette breathed…
But it soon became apparent that Whiteflash and his partner were far stronger than all of their opponents combined, and her anxiety returned.
"They're not strong enough…"
Palmon stepped forward, but Mel took hold of her shoulder.
"No…Not you."
Before the plant Digimon could ask what she meant, the girl had a hand over her charm and ran forward.
Whiteflash seemed intent on smashing his enemies fatally, and she jumped up to grab his arm, holding him back from the deed.
"Don't!"
He tossed her away, and she fell on her back, startled at the pain.
'No!'
Her eyes burned with a startling fire, and she didn't register the bright green light beginning to envelop her vision…
'I won't let him hurt them! Not anymore!'
Charm shining, it enveloped her form in an almost blinding light...
"Rabbit…"
It smoothed itself into a cocoon around her, and she closed her eyes as safety and strength crawled into her skin…
"Melanie, Spirit Evolve into…"
The changes solidified on her frame, and she smiled brightly…
"LUCKY FEET!"
Light fell around her in shattering, glittering shards, and Lucky Feet hit the ground.
Wearing a green bikini top and white mini-skirt, she grinned at the green ruffles beneath, and the green device on her white 'belly' jacket pocket glowed.
Her green backed sandals slid across the ground, and the rabbit's tail and ears twitched, getting used to their new positions.
"Palmon, Digivolve to…TOGEMON!!"
Whiteflash swung his weapons towards her, but Lucky Feet was gone in a flash, brown rabbit's ears streaming back with her hair.
Striking his wrist, she jumped back like a lightning flash, and skidded away on the gold bricks.
Togemon and Monzaemon were sharing blows, and Lucky Feet drew her opponent away from the beaten forms on the ground.
Whiteflash seemed to be getting angry, red eyes flashing as he moved in, claws outstretched.
She was far faster than him, however, and dodged to the side, punching him in the shoulder.
As he was stunned by the blow, she zipped back, knocking him off-balance once more.
Doing this a couple more times seemed to sufficiently daze him, and she skidded to a halt.
Lucky Feet just KNEW this wasn't his fault, just like it hadn't been Meramon and Silverwing's or Andromon and Liztech's…
She couldn't hurt him…
But she could help him.
"Togemon!"
"Yeah?"
Lucky Feet skidded around her angered opponent, making sure not to get grabbed, when something glowed darkly on his back…
"Hit him with all you've got!"
"Got it!"
Readying her fist, she rushed in as her Digimon readied for her own strike…
Her fist was only a moment away from striking his back…
"Needle Spray!"
It seemed that their joined strike was just what the doctor ordered, since a Black Gear escaped Monzaemon's stuffing.
Whiteflash's black hairs turned bright white, and his eyes turned blue as the Spirit Evolution sat up.
"MAN, what happened?"
"You guys were being controlled by a Black Gear. But we need you to release our friends." Lucky Feet explained, jumping up to sit on her partner's fist.
Monzaemon sat up, taking his partner onto his shoulder, and turned to them.
"We'll free your friends."
"We're sorry for all the trouble we caused."
"We didn't mean for anyone to get hurt."
"It's alright."
Smiling, Lucky Feet swung her legs from her high perch.
"You're forgiven."
And really, once everyone was free and explanations given, they were.