Mel shrunk in on herself, gripping Palmon tight as she clung to the flying bed.
Night was turning to day, and she was getting nervous about landing…
They were going pretty fast…
"You should get dressed, Mel. We might land soon."
Nodding, the brunette pulled on her shorts and top, reaching under the covers for her sandals.
"Do you think the others are alright, Pal?"
"I'm sure they're fine."
Smiling slightly, she patted Palmon's head and looked down at the ocean, the device securely on her hip.
"Where do you think we'll land?"
"We're about to find out! HOLD ON!"
Eyes snapping up, green orbs widening at the sight of trees and ground rushing to meet them.
"AH!"
The bed skidded a bit initially, before the front legs caught on the grass and the back legs lifted up sharply.
Crying out again as she was flipped over the footrest, Mel hit the ground on her back.
She groaned in slight pain at the landing, and the breath was forced out of her lungs when Palmon landed on top of her.
Trying to regain the air she'd lost, Mel waited as Palmon slid off her, looking concerned.
"Mel?"
"I'm…okay…"
"Then why are you panting?"
"Just…breathing…"
Finally managing to sit up, Mel shook out hair, braiding it as she looked around.
"Where are we?"
"Some kind of forest…I've never seen anything like it."
Nodding in agreement as she studied the many varying shades of green, Mel stood up.
"Which way do you wanna go?"
"HM…This way!"
The pair started off, looking around and wondering where, exactly, they were…
"Maybe the others are around here somewhere…"
"I wonder who we'll find first…"
Mel smiled.
"I bet Tonya finds us soon. She's probably looking everywhere."
"I bet Steph is, too."
"I bet EVERYONE is looking. Even TJ."
Mel hit the brakes, almost kicking up grass and dirt.
"Oh gosh. TJ!"
"What is it, Mel?"
"She's probably all alone! She's only thirteen!"
"Calm down!"
Palmon took hold of her partner's hand, pulling the brunette down to her level and locking gazes with the emerald eyes.
"TJ and everyone else is fine, Mel. They have their Digimon with them, remember?"
Nodding now that her mild panic attack was soothed away, she stood up straight once more.
"Right…Right, I remember…"
Gripping tighter, Mel began to walk again, breathing returning to normal.
"Besides, I bet they're having fun!"
Trying to reassure herself, the brunette almost forced herself to skip.
"Maybe they found Toy Town, or the Yokomon village! I'm sure they're among friends!"
Palmon nodded, hoping that, perhaps, her friend would actually believe it…
"We should probably find some food though, huh?"
Smiling sheepishly, Mel lifted her gaze so she could find hanging fruit in the trees above.
"Maybe we can find oranges or something…"
"What about that?"
Palmon pointed out what looked like a bushel of bananas, and Mel's eyes lit up.
"Bananas!"
Looking around, she almost decided to climb the tree when Palmon moved in front of her.
"Poison Ivy!"
The vines wrapped around the fruits, and pulled them gently from the branch, lowering the bananas enough so Mel could grab hold.
"These are delicious!"
Pulling one off, the brunette handed the rest to her partner, who happily ate it without peeling back the rough skin.
Figuring it was just a Digimon thing, Mel began to peel the banana, pausing when the found no soft center.
"Aw MAN…"
Slumping, she gave it to her partner and looked around for something else to eat.
"There's got to be food around here for me to eat…"
Sighing, Mel plopped down on her behind, sitting Indian style as Palmon continued to chew.
Looking at the bushes, and enjoying the bright blossoms blooming amid the leaves, she perked when something landed beside her.
Blinking, the green-eyed teen looked to her left to see what it was…
"AH!"
Jumping to her feet, Mel startled her Digimon into dropping the greatly-diminished bushel of bananas.
"EW…"
"Hey there, cutie pie!"
Both looked up in surprise, seeing a strange yellow Digimon, a pink mouse clinging to his head, and what looked like a boy with cockroach wings and antennae.
"What brings you to this neck of the woods?"
"Um, well…We…"
Mel fumbled with her words, looking towards her partner and asking with her eyes what was going on.
"They're Sukamon, Chuumon, and Grub. Also known as the Digi-Losers."
"Hey!"
"That's not very nice!"
Mel pulled Palmon closer to her side, wary of the Digimon and Spirit Evolution she'd just met.
"I'm sorry, I don't think she meant anything by it…"
The trio stilled, clearly surprised at this, and she smiled slightly.
"But maybe you could help us? We're looking for our friends…"
"Sure thing, sweet-cheeks."
Grub jumped, landing before them, as Sukamon slid down the tree trunk with practiced ease.
"What do you need to know?"
Mel was flustered because, despite the slight smudges of dirt and the fact that he was, technically, part cockroach, Grub wasn't that bad-looking…
"Well, you see, me and my friends got separated. Have you seen anyone?"
"…Well…"
"Didn't a girl land near the old ruins with a Tentomon?"
"I could've sworn a girl did."
Grub nodded.
"Yeah, a girl did. On a bed, right?"
"Right! Do you know where that is?"
He smiled at Mel's eager expression, nodding.
"Sure we do. Follow us."
Mel pulled her partner along by her hand, ready to find Lizzy and then the others.
She just felt that, with at least Lizzy by her side, that they'd figure something out and everything would turn out fine.
The trees stopped, and a yard beyond the ground fell to the water.
Farther off, too far to jump or swim in time, was an island shard, moving parallel with them through the ocean.
Mel sighed, looking along the length of the 'river', trying to find something to help the pair cross.
"I should've known this wouldn't be easy…"
"I'm sure you can think of something."
Grub put an arm around her shoulders, and Mel felt a blush creep up her neck.
"Uh, thanks…?"
"Since we brought you this far, why not give us a little…reward?"
"Reward?"
He smiled slyly, and she was soon face-to-face with him.
"Why not a little kiss?"
Her face was practically crimson, and Mel backed out of his embrace.
"I-I would, b-but it's not something I-I'd feel comfortable with…"
"Poison Ivy!"
Palmon's vines caught onto the trees across the way, and she looked to her partner.
"Grab on!"
Mel did so, and they swung across the water to the other side safely.
Landing on the ground with a harsh smack, the brunette slid a bit as Palmon stood up beside her.
"Thanks, Pal."
"No problem."
Looking back, she felt her face heat up to see him waving to her…
"Come on, Mel."
"Yeah…Yeah, let's go."
Walking into the trees, she sighed, eyes sharp for the sight of anything resembling ruins…
'Oh, Lizzy…Where are you?'
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lizzy rubbed her head, looking around her fallen bed at the forest surrounding them in the morning light.
"Are you alright, Tento?"
"I'm fine…"
Starting to pull on her jeans, the blonde pushed her hair back behind her ear, almost falling off the bed.
Sitting up on the grass, Lizzy shook out the pain from her head and grabbed her shirt.
Once it was settled on her frame, the purple-eyed teen stood up, hopping to get her shoes on before studying her surroundings.
"Do you think the others are nearby, Lizzy?"
"Maybe…"
Grabbing her laptop bag and slinging it over her shoulder, she smiled softly at her partner.
"We'd better get moving, though. I might be able to find something that will help us find them."
"Right!"
The trees loomed over them, swallowing them into the forest as the pair tried to find friendly faces.
"Maybe we'll find more hieroglyphs…Maybe it's an ancient Digimon language…Like the Egyptians…"
"Egyptians?"
"Humans have different races and cultures. Egyptians are an ancient civilization that used pictures and hieroglyphics to record their myths and history."
"And what culture are you from?"
"Well, my parents are atheist…They don't believe in religion. But the country we come from, America, is full of all of our world's cultures."
"Your world sounds interesting. Will I ever go there?"
"Well, I don't see why you couldn't…"
Lizzy tilted her head slightly, looking up at the sky…
"I mean, if I'm going back, you'll come with me, right?"
"Of course."
Seeming to relax, she took hold of Tentomon's hand and led him through the brush.
Everything broke away once they reached a clearing, and violet eyes widened at the temple carved into the cliff.
"Whoa…"
"What are you thinking?"
"We could check it out…Just for a sec…"
"Oh, alright…Just for a second, Lizzy."
She beamed, pulling him into one of the tall doorways, and blinked in amazement at the two-story room beyond.
"Amazing…It's the same hieroglyphs…"
Carefully releasing her Digimon's hand, Lizzy studied the high walls and ceiling covered fully, and noticed something to her far right.
"It's a Black Gear!"
Rushing to see the half-hidden device more clearly, Lizzy looked around for more information.
"Maybe something here will help us jam up Devimon and Bloodtongue's system…"
"Lizzy, what are you looking for?"
"If I can find an outlet, then I can compare these hieroglyphs and make another map of the island…Then I might be able to find the signals of their devices…"
Finding a tree root behind the gear, and an outlet, Lizzy plugged in her laptop and sat down.
"Shouldn't we be more active about this?"
"I am, Tento. I just need some time…"
Pausing, Lizzy looked up, eyes trained on the entrance to the temple…
"Lizzy?"
"…I thought I heard something…" She whispered.
Both tensed as a shadow fell within the room, and relaxed at the sight of Mel's surprised face.
"Lizzy! Tentomon!"
"M-Mel! P-Palmon!"
The blonde was surprised when her older friend jumped to hug her, and barely managed to stay upright.
"I'm so glad we found you! What are you doing here anyway? Where are the others?"
"I-I'm trying to figure that out…"
Mel pulled back, looking confused at the screen's contents and the hieroglyphs on the walls.
"How?"
"I-If I can connect these hieroglyphs in the proper sequence, th-then they should show me a three-D map of the island now that it's broken apart…"
"But how will you know which ones have our friends on them?"
"I-I can find the signals for our devices…"
Tentomon sighed, sitting beside Palmon to wait it out, and Mel, understanding her friend's mood, followed suit.
The only thing they could hear for the next hour was the keys of the laptop, and Mel was already growing beyond bored.
"Are you almost done, Lizzy?"
"Hm? Oh, yeah…"
When focused, everyone knew how hard it was to rip the purple-eyed girl away from it.
However, Mel was also known for having a very short attention span, and a shorter fuse once it was used up.
Ignoring her was never a good thing…
"Lizzy, we should be out looking for them instead of sitting around doing nothing."
"I'm almost done…Just hold on…"
Green eyes narrowed, and Palmon tensed, feeling the irritation through their bond.
"I'm not going to stay here just so you can play around on your computer, Lizzy!"
Head snapping up at the shout, purple eyes widened at the sight of a watery-eyed Mel.
"Mel-?"
"You may not care about where the others are right now, or if they're alright, but I do!"
"Mel-!"
"So you can just stay here for all I care! I'm LEAVING!"
Palmon was near tears as well, the emotions overwhelming her, and they blinded her to her partner rushing off.
Tentomon, however, gave chase to perhaps persuade the other girl that his own partner had meant no harm.
Lizzy gasped at the sudden feeling of their bond stretching, and Palmon fell over in surprise pain.
By the time the blonde regained her senses, Mel and Tentomon were out of sight, and she straightened up.
"Where'd they go?"
"I don't know…"
Pupils dilated as adrenaline pounded, the next thought in her mind nearly sending the girl into a panic.
"They didn't go further inside, did they?"
"I think they did…Why?"
Palmon looked concerned, walking up to Lizzy's side and wondering what was wrong.
"I-I found a map of the ruins…I-It's a labyrinth, Palmon. Th-They could be lost in there forever."
Alarm crossed the plant Digimon's face, and Lizzy brought up the map immediately, fingers flying.
"I-I need to figure this map out before I can lead them out of there."
"I can't just sit here! I need to go in there and find her!"
"Y-You'll get lost, too."
"But it HURTS!"
Lizzy paused, eyes wavering on the screen, almost not following the flashing parts of the map…
"…I know…"
Palmon paused, seeing the pain hidden in the normally shy violet irises.
"…Lizzy?"
"I-I think I've figured it out."
Pulling a headset and microphone from her bag, the blonde set it over her head and clicked on a blinking green dot.
"If I'm right, this is Mel's device…"
There was a moment of silence before Mel's voice came through…
"What are you talking about? We haven't gone through here yet!"
"I've seen that crack before."
"OH…Now I see it!"
Both smiled hearing their partners' voices, and Lizzy pressed a button on the headset over her ear.
"M-Mel? Tento?"
"Lizzy?"
"How come we can here you?"
"I-I'm communicating through your device."
Trying to gather her confidence, Lizzy was keeping her voice from shaking…
"I'm going to show you the way out. Just follow my directions."
"Alright…"
As the blonde relayed information and the dot moved to follow them, Palmon looked all over the map curiously.
"Hey, what's that?"
Blinking, Lizzy turned her attention to the yellow dot, and her brow furrowed in concern.
"…I don't know…It must be someone else in the labyrinth…"
"Are they good?"
"…"
Mel's voice, loud enough for even Palmon to hear, gave them an answer…
"Oh my gosh! Who's that?!"
"It's Centarumon and Blade! Centarumon has a Black Gear!"
"Guys, get out of there!" Lizzy ordered, eyes darting across the screen.
"Take a left! Then a right!"
Turning to Palmon, she set her jaw to keep away doubt.
"Let's go."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mel panted, skidding around a corner with Tentomon at her back, as a porcupine Spirit Evolution and his partner chased them down.
"Hurry up!"
"I'm flying as fast as I can!"
"FLY FASTER!"
The pounding of hooves had her heart pounding so fast Mel was surprised it hadn't exploded, and she found the next turn.
"This way!"
Halting once she entered the room, green eyes widened.
"It's a dead-end!"
"Get down!"
Tentomon crashed into her back, and both hit the ground before…
"Solar Ray!"
The attack practically scorched the air above them, striking the brick, and both rolled to the side to avoid Centarumon's hooves.
Getting to her feet, Mel put a hand onto her charm…
"Rabbit!"
The light didn't come, and she blinked in surprise.
"Why isn't it working?"
"You have to be with your partner."
"WHAT?"
Tentomon was almost startled out of the air at the yell, and turned to her panicked face.
"Does that mean you can't Digivolve, either?"
"Unfortunately…"
"THEN HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO GET OUT OF THIS?!"
"We have to trust that Lizzy and Palmon will get here in time."
"You two are finished." Blade hissed, back bristling with spikes and two escaping the tops of his hands like spears.
"We will not allow you to live."
Mel was almost shaking, wishing Palmon was there, when the wall behind them began to crumble.
Turning to see it more clearly, the bricks fell away to reveal…
"Pal!"
"Lizzy!"
"You've got to get out of there!"
"Come on!"
They were just rushing out of the room when Centarumon raised his weapon and Blade rushed, and Lizzy jumped into action.
"Ferret!"
The light startled the other Spirit Evolution into halting…
"Elizabeth, Spirit Evolve into…TECHIE!"
"Tentomon, Digivolve to…KABUTERIMON!!"
Mel, figuring this was a good time to join in, grinned.
"Rabbit!"
The light shielded Techie as she knocked Blade back, and Kabuterimon took to the air.
"Melanie, Spirit Evolve into…LUCKY FEET!"
"Palmon, Digivolve to…TOGEMON!!"
Facing the pair, the four were ready for a fight…
"Solar Ray!"
The Digimon managed to dodge, and Techie slid out of Blade's way, barely avoiding his 'blades'.
Lucky Feet moved like a bullet, punching the porcupine-man in the face and jumping back.
He growled, eyes red, and swung his fist at the girls, who ducked under the swipe.
Techie jumped forward to catch his spear-like weapon, wincing as the other opened a gash in her shoulder, but held on tight.
Her friend rushed in, tackling Blade and flipping off as the blonde's shoulder healed over.
Tail stiff in wariness, Techie crouched down, unsure how to defeat him.
"Techie!"
Eyes snapping to meet her friend's, she nodded to show Lucky Feet had her attention.
"Get him in the back!"
Both nodded in agreement, and rushed forward at the same moment.
Techie grabbed onto Blade's wrists, feet coming up over her head and his shoulders, about to hit his back with Lucky Feet…
"Electro Shocker!"
"Needle Spray!"
Centarumon and Blade cried out as the Black Gear was forced out of the former's body, shattering into infinitesimal pieces as the partners backed off.
"Oh…Where are we?"
"The ruins…You guys attacked us." Mel answered.
The light returned the four to normal as Centarumon and Blade stood, the latter noticing the devices on the girls' hips.
"Where'd you get that?"
"Th-These?"
Lizzy unclipped it, holding the purple device carefully in her palm.
"Wh-What about them?"
"We've seen them before…"
As the elder partners turned to show them further inside, and the girls and Digimon shared a glance before following.
Centarumon clearly knew his way around the labyrinth, and led them into a large room.
On the far wall was a carving of something that looked like their own devices, and both stared at it in awe.
"Sure looks familiar, huh?"
Lizzy nodded in agreement.
"It is the mystical symbol of the Digivice."
"These ruins are its temple, and we are it's guardians."
"The Digivice is a preserver of light."
"The last line of defense against the darkness that threatens existence."
"HEAVY…" Mel whispered, gripping Palmon's hand tighter.
"Preserver of light against the darkness…" Lizzy muttered to herself, staring at the small Digivice.
Heavy footsteps caught their attention, and everyone turned to see who came through the doorway…
"Leomon? Claw?"
Purple eyes widened at the sight of the Digimon and his partner, already knowing they was no longer on their side…
"LIZZY…" Mel almost begged, backing up.
"Destroy them…The children…I warn you, do not interfere with us."
"No!"
Blade blocked Claw's blow, and Centarumon was holding back Leomon's fist…
"I said NO, Leomon! The children possess the Digivices!"
"As the guardians of its temple, we must protect them as well!"
"Protect them from us? Good luck!"
The two pairs separated, and Lizzy pulled her friend closer to the far wall, both gripping their Digivices tightly.
"Fist of the Beast King!"
"Solar Ray!"
The two attacks clashed, as did the Spirit Evolutions, and the girls crouched down to avoid debris.
Holding Palmon close to her side, Mel tried to keep from panicking…
"Fist of the Beast King!"
Centarumon hit the wall, too weak to rise, and Blade was tossed into his partner harshly.
Both pairs of white eyes landed on the girls, and they tensed, like prey being stalked by a hungry predator…
Lizzy looked down at the Digivice, mind whirring, and tightened her grip.
"On my mark?"
Mel stared at her friend a moment before nodding, and they watched Leomon and Claw's approach…
"NOW!"
Almost thrusting the little devices towards the larger pair, the screens gave off a powerful white light.
Crying out, the two felines couldn't hold up against the pain and raced off into the labyrinth.
"…Good idea…"
Smiling shyly at the compliment, Lizzy shrugged.
"N-No big…"
Centarumon found his feet, and Blade jumped onto his back before they came to check on them.
"Are you alright?"
"We're dandy!" Mel replied, grinning.
"W-We need to get out of here, though…"
"We'll show you the way."
"It isn't that far."
They were led through the hallways and rooms and tunnels, the twists and turns confusing even Lizzy at the time, before reaching the 'front room'.
Retrieving her laptop, the blonde saved her progress and closed it, sticking everything inside before turning to Centarumon and Blade.
"D-Do you know how to stop the Black Gear?"
"No, I'm afraid we can not…"
"We have neither the strength nor the knowledge to oppose Devimon and his powers of darkness…"
Mel stared at the gear, concentrating so hard Palmon took notice…
"Mel?"
The brunette marched up to the half-hidden, rotating device, and kicked it as hard as she could.
"MEL!"
Everyone fell silent when it actually stopped for a moment, then started up in the opposite direction.
"…I-I guess the simplest solution is usually the best after all…"
Lizzy led the way out of the temple, waving goodbye to Centarumon and Blade as they reached the edge of their island shard.
"I-I think we're moving in the opposite direction…"
"We are! These two pieces were moving in the same direction, but now we're going backwards!"
"Th-Then we're heading for Infinity Mountain…"
"Hey, sweet-cheeks!"
Blushing, the brunette looked across the way to see Grub and his twin Digimon partners.
Lizzy tilted her head curiously, eyes drifting to her friend…
"Mel?"
"Don't ask…Please…"