"HOT…" Jenny whined, too tired to form a full sentence.
"…At least we know you're alive, Jen…"
"GOMA-GOMA…"
"When you start feeling cold, THEN we'll get concerned." Meg stated.
"Pal, are you alright?"
"WITHERING…CAN'T…BREATHE…"
"Oh, don't be such a drama queen…"
"Tento, you don't look so good…"
"I'm fine…Just one question…"
"What?"
"Whose Tento?"
"It's nice up here!" Tokomon chirped from atop his partner's head.
"Next time, I ride…"
"Stephie, are you okay?"
"I'm alright, Biyo. Don't worry."
Brushing her dark crimson bangs back, the dark-eyed Steph smiled.
"Just a little heat. Nothing we can't handle, right?"
"Right!"
"Koro, are you okay? You don't look so good…"
"I'm okay…"
"Yeah, that's why you're sleeping…"
Smiling tightly, Tonya did her best to shield the small Digimon from the sun.
'This is all my fault…If I hadn't pushed so hard…'
Flashes of a shocked face, a skewered chest…
The life leaving the girl's eyes moments before she disappeared forever…
'He wouldn't be Koromon again and wouldn't have…'
The monstrous skeletal creature, with dead eyes and only bloodlust in his veins…
A chill ran down her spine to remember the cold wrapping around her heart from their bond…
'I wouldn't have made my friend a monster…'
Mel seemed to read the thoughts in her older leader's eyes, and picked up the pace to walk beside the redhead.
"Something on your mind?" She offered happily, a friendly smile on her face.
"You don't have to."
'You don't have to be nice or sincere, because I wouldn't believe you if I tried. I'm a horrible person.'
"Tonya…"
Catching her friend's attention as Palmon took hold of her hand, the brunette's expression softened…
"I want to."
"…"
Her eyes wavered, almost shimmering, as Koromon nuzzled her neck…
"…Thanks, Mel…"
Glad her friend was ready to open up, the brunette gently bumped shoulders.
"So what's up?"
"…I messed up big this time…"
"You always manage to fix it, though."
"I don't think I can…Not this time…"
"Of course you can. We all believe in you, Tonya."
"WHY?"
Tonya looked towards her younger friend, wondering what had founded this trust in her.
"Why would you believe in me? I…I KILLED someone!"
"That wasn't you." Mel insisted.
"It wasn't."
Jumping as Meg placed a hand on her shoulder, Tonya turned to see the surprisingly-soft blue eyes.
"No one believes that was really you."
"You were just trying too hard to protect us all on your own." Steph added, smiling reassuringly.
"W-We don't blame you for anything…"
"Sure, you became this bloodthirsty savage, but you fought it." Jenny stated, playfully punching the redhead's arm.
"We know you'd never try to hurt us on purpose." TJ smiled sweetly.
"So why don't we find some hot chocolate to make it all better?"
Tonya couldn't speak, her throat was so choked with emotion…
"Hey…"
Meg pulled her friend to face her, trying to find the right words…
"…We all believe in you, Tonya. We trust you with our lives. Nothing can ever change that."
After a moment, she nodded, pulling away before the tears could overwhelm her.
"…Thanks…"
"We should get out of this heat…" Lizzy noted, helping Tonya distract from her obvious sentimentality.
"If we keep walking around like this…"
"It won't end well, that's for sure." Jenny finished.
"I wish I could grow into a giant cactus and smile down as I give cool, refreshing comfort…"
"…Pal?"
"Hm?"
"…Did you just make that giant cactus appear with your mind?"
"What cactus?"
"THAT cactus."
Everyone looked up at the giant plant, eyes wide…
"Um…No…"
"…"
Tonya shared a look with them, and gave a grin that reminded them of her old self.
"LAST ONE THERE IS A ROTTEN EGG!"
"EAT MY VEGETABLES!"
The group blinked in confusion as Jenny raced ahead…
"I think she just says that stuff to make us hesitate…" Steph grumbled, running after their older friend.
"A tricky one." Meg agreed.
When they got closer, Jenny skidded to a halt first, eyebrow lifted now.
"Um…Isn't there supposed to be shade?"
"Yeah. Isn't there?" Mel wondered, stopping beside the blonde to see that there was, indeed, no shade.
"What's going on?" Lizzy wondered.
"It's a…"
Meg sighed as it wavered, disappearing in the heat and causing them all to groan in despair.
"Mirage."
"AW…" TJ whined, falling back to restore her strength.
"We were TRICKED!" Jenny accused, following suit with the others…
They were just so TIRED…
"Hello there! It's about time you got here."
Perking, all eyes turned to a device that revealed itself from the sand, projecting a column of rainbow-light as Gennai appeared.
"I was just about ready to give up on you."
"GENNAI!"
Tonya almost pounced, intent on saying what was now on her mind.
"You said if we got the tags and crests, our Digimon could Digivolve and we could get stronger! Look at poor Koromon! We tried, and look what happened!"
"Calm down, kids. Let me explain." He reasoned, seeing her desperate for answers.
"The tags and crests are extremely important. Make sure that no one else gets a hold of them. In the end, you shall see that they work together to help you create total harmony."
"Th-They only work together?" Lizzy wondered.
"We can't wait to find all of them! Etemon and Babyface are attacking us NOW!" Steph retorted.
"We can't defend ourselves as we are." Mel agreed.
"Don't tell me you've FORGOTTEN about them, you senile old fruit-loop."
"We need a way to use our crests now." Meg decided.
"How?" TJ wondered.
"Gennai."
All attention turned back to Tonya, who was looking down at her partner…
"…Why did I mess up so badly? Why did Koromon get so hurt?"
"He wouldn't be so helpless if you knew how to care for him in the proper way."
"I did my best!" She growled, almost bristling at the accusation.
"Patience is what you need to learn, my friend. And you will learn it in time."
"Patience…"
'I rushed for him to Digivolve, and look what happened…'
"I'm starting to lose my connection…Good luck."
"Wait, Gennai!"
But he was gone, and no one was particularly happy about it…
"…Are we really that bad at taking care of them?" Steph wondered, looking guilty.
"Don't think like that, Stephie!" Biyomon insisted, nuzzling her partner's waist.
"I think you're doing a great job!"
"Thanks, Biyo…"
"Agumon wouldn't have Dedigivolved if we hadn't done something wrong." Meg reasoned.
"You've done more than enough." Gabumon assured.
"I'm grateful to have such a partner."
A small smile crossed her face…
"Thanks, Gabu."
"I-I wish I knew how to take care of you, Tento…"
"You're doing great, Lizzy. Don't worry about it." Tentomon soothed.
"Aw, Tento…"
"Shouldn't there be a manual for this sort of thing?! I mean, I've done everything but give you an allowance!!"
"Aw, Jen…"
Gomamon could see the guilt through the blonde's sarcasm, and felt it deeply in their bond.
"You're doing a decent job. Don't get upset."
Her shoulders loosened…
"Yeah…"
A whistle went off, and Mel jolted, looking up in surprise to see…
"Is that a cruise ship?"
"Aren't they in the water?" TJ questioned.
"Apparently, they go through sand and forests, too!" Jenny joked.
Tonya's eyes widened to see it rushing straight towards them…
"GET OUT OF THE WAY!"
Leaping as a unit out of the ship's path, they crashed to the sand, getting up as it stopped beside them.
"OW…" Steph mumbled.
"What's going on up there?" Meg wondered, looking up at the ship.
A Numemon looked over the railing with his rat partner, seemingly curious about the disturbance below.
Mel shook out the sand from her hair, standing up as Palmon used her hand to help, and looked around at her friends.
'Well…If we were on the ship, at least we'd have shade…'
Looking up at the pair above, she smiled sweetly, stepping forward.
"Well, hello there. You wouldn't mind letting us come up and look your ship, would you?"
The Spirit Evolution seemed mesmerized by her almost shy demeanor, and Jenny almost snorted in laughter at the love-struck look.
The 'ladder' immediately came down, and excitement bubbled in their veins as they rushed up.
As a group, the girls went inside, relieved at the cool air and lack of blistering sunshine.
"A dining room!" TJ exclaimed, giddy.
As she rushed off to find food, Meg on her heels, Lizzy smiled shyly.
"I'll go with them…"
Once the three had branched off, the rest continued on with their 'tour'.
Passing by the rooms, Steph and Mel, tired from the walk, chose one to share and figured they'd take a break.
"We'll probably just take a shower." Steph assured.
"You two enjoy yourselves." Mel encouraged.
Tonya, with Koromon in her arms, was then dragged off by Jenny to find something to do.
Gomamon was running to keep up, and eventually jumped onto his partner's shoulder as they exited onto the deck.
There was a pool there, with deck chairs and a table, umbrella shielding it and the chairs from the sunlight.
"You brought a swim suit under your clothes, right?"
"Didn't everybody?"
"Then lets take a dip!"
Jenny grinned, running to the pool as she pulled off her shirt and jeans.
Tonya had to admit, in the light silver bikini the elder girl had chosen to contrast her slightly darkened skin, she DID look pretty…
Pulling off her own shirt and shorts, she revealed her own dark orange two-piece.
Taking their clothes, she put them under the umbrella with Koromon.
"Yo, Jenny! Your crest!"
Jenny looked up from the pool's edge, smiling a bit before pulling off the tag and tossing it towards her friend.
Gomamon, glad to prank his partner, crashed into her legs, sending both tumbling into the water with shouts of surprise.
Tonya giggled, setting both tags and crests on the table before placing Koromon as well.
"Just relax, alright?"
He nodded, already dozing, and she smiled wider before turning towards the water to see Jenny and Gomamon, now done fighting, float.
Running towards the invitingly cool water, Tonya cannon-balled into the pool.
"HEY."
Jenny mock-glared once her friend surfaced, earning a sheepish look.
"Oops?"
Giving a splash as punishment, the blonde returned to floating on her back, Gomamon at her side.
Shrugging, Tonya allowed herself to float as well, looking up at the clouds…
"…Jen?"
"Mm?"
"…What do you think Gennai meant when he said we weren't raising or Digimon right?"
"…No clue…"
"No witty comment? No joke?" Tonya teased lightly.
Jenny smiled tiredly, feeling weightless and heavy all at once…
"Maybe he's right…I mean you've seen what happens when you push a kid too hard…"
Tonya nodded slightly, remembering Meg looking down at a chessboard, crying and telling her mother she did the best she could…
"They're like OUR kids, Tonya…Our friends, our partners, our Digimon, but we're all still kids…"
"Yeah…But we've done alright so far, huh?"
Jenny's smile became true, and she scratched Gomamon's belly…
"Yeah, we did alright…"
Something whistled through the air, and silver eyes shot upward a moment before she pushed Gomamon out of the way.
A net fell over her, lashing around her limbs and causing her to be trapped.
As the rat Spirit Evolutions pulled the thrashing blonde towards them, another managed to capture Tonya.
"JEN!"
"TONYA!"
Gomamon swam after his partner, avoiding a third net.
"Marching Fishes!"
As the Numemon were knocked back by the colorful fish, he jumped onto the dry wood as Koromon saw some approaching him…
And the crests.
"You stay away from them!"
"KORO!"
They tried to pounce…
"Koromon, Digivolve to…AGUMON!!"
Jumping off the table, he felt his strength returning in a rush…
"Pepper Breath!"
As the Numemon scattered, Tonya started struggling.
"Agu, you're okay!"
Jenny spotted someone running towards the pool, and her heart nearly popped out of her chest.
"Goma-Goma, LOOK OUT!"
"It's Wolvie and Kokatorimon!"
The wolverine Spirit Evolution hissed at them, causing Tonya to return the favor, as the bird Digimon faced Agumon and Gomamon.
"Petrifier!"
Jenny gasped at the sensation of their bond solidifying to stone, and her eyes glazed over, body going limp against the wood.
Tonya felt incredibly numb, and her eyes dimmed as her thrashing stopped, spirit seemingly extinguished.
"That was easy." Wolvie mused, smirk sharp as Kokatorimon grabbed the tags and crests.
"Like taking corn from a chick! Now, where are those other kids?"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"We found it! We found the food!"
TJ jumped around excitedly with Tokomon as Meg and Lizzy inspected the table of food.
"R-Remember when the food was only an illusion?"
"Another trap?"
Tentomon sniffed curiously.
"It doesn't SMELL like a trap."
"And there isn't anything else to eat." Gabumon reminded.
"I could test it!" Tokomon offered.
"Me, too!"
Meg sighed, seeing her sister's hopeful expression…
"Alright, alright. We'll eat."
"YAY!"
Smiling softly, Lizzy picked up a cupcake, carefully licking off the icing.
Meg scooped up some jellybeans and a hamburger, barely avoiding having her hand bitten off.
The Digimon were ravenous, consuming everything in sight, as TJ happily ate away at a personal shrimp pizza.
None of them were willing to leave, would have gladly slept on the floor…
Meg stiffened, seeming to catch a sharp sound, and Lizzy slowed in her rushed eating.
"Meg?"
"Meggie, is something wrong?"
The large wooden doors rattled…
"Get down."
The youngest two of the group ducked under the table when the door busted open, revealing some Numemon and their partners.
Meg growled, throwing a chair as the Digimon easily switched to attack mode.
"Blue Blaster!"
"Super Shocker!"
"Bubble Blow!"
Lizzy smacked a rat Spirit Evolution with a candelabra, Tentomon buzzing to her aid.
"What happened?" TJ wondered.
"Weren't they good Digimon?"
"Apparently not." Meg growled, punching a rat-girl in the face.
"S-Something might have happened to the others!"
"Then we'll just have to save them, won't we?"
Kokatorimon and Wolvie blocked their exit, and Meg barely avoided having her face ripped open.
Nearly baring her teeth, she almost snarled when the man laughed.
"You've got spirit. Like that girl with the Agumon."
His smirk sharpened with cruelty…
"I'll enjoy seeing the fire leave your eyes as well."
"Basturd."
Gabumon's eyes widened as he saw Kokatorimon ready to charge…
"MEG!"
"MEGGIE!"
"Meg, get down!"
"Petrifier!"
TJ's eyes widened as the sudden numbing feeling of her bond with Tokomon took over her heart.
Lizzy fell as if she was heavy, eyes glazing as her body went limp on the floor along with TJ.
Meg's eyes dimmed as her body fell, a thud echoing through the air as her eyes seemed to stare at the statue her partner had become…
Wolvie licked his lips, turning back towards the door.
"That was fun. Let's do it again."
"Definitely!"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Slipping out of her clothes in the joint shower, Steph shook them out before placing them on the sink.
Mel had gone in ahead of her, and the water was warm by now.
As Palmon and Biyomon slept in the other room, their partners had decided to wash up.
Having shared locker room showers with other girls in multiple sports, Steph had gotten over most insecurities about showering in only a red two piece or naked.
Mel had even played tennis and golf, mainly because her parents had insisted, and had been stripped of self-conscious tendencies as well.
They were in such a hurry to be clean that the pair didn't want to wait for the other.
Stepping under the warm spray, Steph released a sigh as it soaked into her bones…
Her hair was already sticking to her neck and forehead, and she reached for the shampoo first.
Mel's longer brunette hair was already being rinsed, and the soap bar was being soaked.
"Lucky we found this place, huh?"
"Definitely. It's great to use a real shower."
Steph smiled, closing her eyes as the suds were washed out of her hair, before grabbing the soap Mel offered.
"Smells like roses."
"It's pretty!"
Mel grinned, washing the dirt off her skin and reaching for a washcloth.
The door opened, and Steph looked around the shower curtain as Mel brushed suds off her bareback green swimsuit.
"Biyo?"
"Pal, what's wrong?"
"Someone's coming!"
"A BIG someone!"
Mel looked concerned, pulling her long wet hair over her shoulder so she could wring out the excess water.
"An enemy?"
"I think so!"
"We need to get out of here." Steph decided, looking around for another exit.
"The window!"
The girls rushed towards it, and Steph helped Mel jump up to reach it, waiting for her to climb out before following her example.
"Come on, Biyo. Hurry!"
The Digimon barely managed to crawl out before a door slammed open, and their hearts started pounding.
"This way." Steph whispered, herding the other three down the hallway, too hyped on adrenaline to see the wet puddles following them…
Skidding around corners and thundering down hallways, Mel was starting to pant as her mind rushed through thoughts.
'Are the others okay?'
'Did they get caught?'
'Who's chasing us?'
Steph pulled her down a corridor, and the railing on their right showed that they were on the far side of the ship.
"Steph?"
"What?"
The crimson-banged brunette wondered, leading the younger girl by her wrist.
"Do you think the others are okay?"
"…"
She didn't know, couldn't think of it, but she still smiled back at her younger friend as Palmon grabbed her partner's hand.
"I'm sure everyone's fine. Don't worry, Mel."
Watching her friend's face, Mel couldn't really think of any reason to disbelieve her.
Nodding, she allowed herself to be pulled along, squeezing Palmon's hand to dispel her anxiety.
Biyomon flew at her partner's side, sometimes swooping ahead to check which hallways were free.
"STEPHIE!"
Hitting the brakes, dark eyes widened in surprise to see the two massive forms blocking their path…
"It's Wolvie and Kokatorimon!" Palmon explained.
Steph caught hold of her wits, standing tall in front of the seemingly-stronger pair.
Kokatorimon was holding Tonya and Jenny's tags and crests…
"What are you doing with those?"
"Your friends sure give great gifts!"
"But don't worry about them. They're just getting a little sun."
"What about the Digimon?" Biyomon demanded.
"They're a bit on the stiff side, if you know what I mean!"
"They make great Digimon paperweights."
"I can't believe it…" Mel stated in shock.
"You turned the Digimon to stone? But what about…?"
"They're not stone. Probably half-dead." Steph explained.
"We need to beat them in order to return the Digimon to normal and revive the others."
Heart really racing, Mel's green eyes shone with concern…
'But I'm not strong enough, Steph…'
Steph smiled slightly.
"We can do it. No worries."
Her eyes hardened.
"Biyo!"
"Spiral Twister!"
Kokatorimon jumped back to avoid the flames, and Wolvie barely ducked beneath Steph's kick.
"Poison Ivy!"
Mel slid down to try and kick his legs out, though it didn't work, and Steph flipped over her friend's shoulders to lash out at his head.
"ENOUGH! Kokatorimon!"
"Petrifier!"
Yelping in surprise, both Biyomon and Palmon avoided the blast, and raced down the hallway with their partners.
"NOW I'm being chased by a giant chicken!"
"I'd prefer Monzaemon!" Steph admitted.
"What are we gonna do?"
"…Fight."
They came out on the front deck, and found themselves trapped against the very front railings.
Steph whirled around to face their pursuers first, body already battle-ready.
"You want to fight? Let's fight!"
Her charm began to glow…
"Eagle!"
The light enveloped her familiarly, and their opponents backed away in surprised pain…
"Stephanie, Spirit Evolve into…TALON!"
"Biyomon, Digivolve to…BIRDRAMON!!"
"What's wrong, guys?"
Talon spread her wings, taking to the sky with her partner.
"Can't you fly?"
Diving towards Wolvie, she tucked her wings in as she spun like a drill…
"Meteor Wing!"
Wolvie barely got clipped by her strike, as did Kokatorimon, as Talon swooped back up into the air.
"It's our turn, Pal!"
"Right!"
Green rabbit charm beginning to glow, Mel put a hand over it…
"Rabbit!"
The light caught Wolvie's attention, and his eyes widened…
'Not another one!'
"Melanie, Spirit Evolve into…LUCKY FEET!"
"Palmon, Digivolve to…TOGEMON!!"
"Meteor Wing!"
Wolvie was clipped by Talon's wing, and the eagle-girl spun out of range of his claws as a blur smacked into his chest.
Flipping off, Lucky Feet skidded to her feet, bringing her fists up like a boxer.
"This is for our friends!"
"Needle Spray!"
As both Kokatorimon and Wolvie were struck, Talon swooped in to retrieve the two crests the Digimon had taken.
"Nighty-night, boys!"
Wolvie was about to demand what she meant when Lucky Feet suddenly appeared before him in a blur, fist pulled back…
Togemon's uppercut connected at the same time as her partner's, and sent both of their opponents flying into a smoke stack.
It seemed they blocked it quite a bit, and fire and smoke burst from the top, signaling their defeat it seemed.
As their transformations fell away and their Digimon Dedigivolved, the girls started running towards the dining room.
They found three dazed, surprised Digimon, and skidded to a halt.
"Gabumon! Tokomon!"
"Tentomon! We need your help!"
The trio nodded, knowing already what was needed of them, and led the way towards their partners.
There was a net suspended over the pool, with the other five girls attached to it, with Agumon and Gomamon already working on the problem.
"Hold on, guys!"
"We're coming!"
Biyomon and Tentomon flew up to untie the two highest knots as Gabumon and Agumon bit open the others.
The net fell into the pool, probably a cool relief compared to the scorching sunlight they'd been experiencing, and Mel smiled sheepishly.
"Oops?"
"Just help us out." Meg retorted, pulling herself out of the pool and patting Gabumon's head.
Steph helped lift TJ out, who immediately embraced Tokomon, and Mel helped pull out Lizzy, who had an excited Tentomon atop her in moments.
Tonya lifted herself out, hugging Agumon around the neck now that everything seemed alright, and Gomamon helped his own partner.
"Thanks, Goma-Goma…"
Pounding feet and screams caught the group's attention, and they went to the edge to see what was going on.
The Numemon and rat Spirit Evolutions seemed to be abandoning ship, and Tonya gathered her senses fully.
"We'd better follow suit. They must have a good reason."
"Let's get our stuff first." Steph reminded.
Meg, Lizzy, and TJ watched the gangplank as the others rushed off to find their clothes.
They came back, still tugging on their shirts, as all seven raced down the plank to the sand below.
It was still scorching hot, but they didn't stop running until the ship was well out of sight.
"You guys did alright." Jenny admitted, grinning.
"You beat up those two jerks good, didn't you?"
Mel smiled in return, giggling as she took hold of her partner's hand.
"I guess you could say that."
"I'm pretty sure they'll be having some chicken for dinner, though." Steph joked.
"We're proud of you two." Meg admitted.
"I'M just glad you guys beat them. It's not very fun to be part-frozen." Tonya stated.
"Th-Thanks…You saved us..."
"Aw, it was nothing…" Mel insisted.
"You guys were like superheroes!"
Steph smiled, carrying Biyomon against her chest, glad that the heat was no longer leeching off their energy and hope.
"Definitely."
A faint horn echoed off the sand, and the group paused, confused.
"Huh?"
Turning, they stared in surprise at the cruise ship racing towards them…
"Oh…JEBUS…"
"RUN!" Tonya shouted.
No one objected, running from the quickly-gaining ship, when a familiar form rose up from the sand.
"The giant cactus!" Mel realized.
"A-Another mirage?" Lizzy wondered.
"No! It has a shadow!" Steph noted.
"Get behind it!" Tonya ordered.
The group barely managed to get on the other side of the large plant before the ship rammed into it powerfully.
The plant bent backwards under the weight, taking the whole ship onto its length, before snapping upright like a rubber band.
The cruise ship went flying into the air, only a long black wire keeping it from going too far.
As panels and such came off, the wire seemed to shear, breaking and causing the entire thing to explode.
Meg whistled appreciatively, shielding her eyes, and smirked.
"Those basturds sure deserved it."
As the debris settled quite a few miles away, the group's attention turned to the giant cactus that had shielded them.
"Whoa…It's as big as a skyscraper, Pal!"
"Yeah! …What's a skyscraper?"
Something seemed to bloom on the top, and Mel tilted her head curiously, trying to see it better…
"Is that a flower?"
"I-It's possible…Cacti are known to bloom…" Lizzy informed.
As the large petals opened, a large slab of stone seemed to levitate out of it, a symbol on its surface.
"A crest…" Steph muttered.
Mel's tag began to glow green, hovering up off her chest as if calling out to the crest.
The stone seemed to tilt, facing them, which startled most of the group.
The brunette was motionless, amazed by what was going on and too awed to be frightened.
As the crest began to glow as well, it floated towards them, growing smaller.
Once it was alongside the tag, both stopped glowing, and the crest clicked into place.
Carefully wrapping her fingers around the tag, Mel studied the new crest that now filled the space, eyes curious.
"I got a crest…"
"Congratulations!" TJ voiced.
She smiled slightly, running a thumb over the picture…
"Well, if it'll help me take care of Pal, I'll keep it."
"AW…Thanks, Mel…"
"That's what Gennai meant when he said the tags and crests need to be used together…" Jenny mused.
Meg smiled slightly, leaning a bit on Gabumon.
'Well, if anyone deserved a crest after this, it'd be Mel. She deserves it.'