"With Steph captured, we need to think of a way to save her…" Mel noted, biting into a piece of fruit.
The firelight flickered, and Tonya didn't lift her eyes from the flames, barely eating her own portion.
"Tonya."
Gold eyes flickered up to meet the blue irises of her slightly-older friend, and Meg sighed.
"This isn't your fault. This whole thing isn't up to you. We're all a part of this."
"Don't beat yourself up. I'm sure anyone else would have done the same if they realized they'd…"
Tonya knew where Jenny was going…
'Almost killed themselves and doomed their friends forever…'
"But it didn't happen, so stop sulking! I mean, we should be planning, right?" Mel fumbled to recover, and gave a forced smile.
Tonya sighed, nodding slightly…
Lizzy had eaten faster than the others, and was in the room trying to figure out where Steph was.
The Digimon ate beside the 'doorway', and TJ had joined them because Meg didn't want her to hear their conversation.
"We'll get her back, Tonya." The black-haired girl assured.
"We're the Digidestined, remember? We can do anything!" Jenny agreed.
"We're not Kim Possible." Tonya joked weakly, a small smile on her face.
"Ha! I got you to smile, though!"
"We're all in this together. No Digidestined left behind, right?" Mel voiced.
"Right…"
"But we don't know where he is. We'll have to wait for Datamon and Yoke to make a move." Meg reasoned.
"But we can't just sit here!"
Tonya's soul was burning, her purpose so strong she could hardly hold it in.
She needed to save Steph, save Biyomon, protect her friends, save the Digital World, get home…
'But you're not alone, Tonya.'
The thought was the faintest of echoes, bouncing gently in her mind in Agumon's familiar voice.
Their connection was deep, strong feelings and, sometimes, thoughts, echoing in each others very souls.
Ever since that missed chance at Digivolving correctly, they'd been linked more deeply than before.
It soothed the weight off her shoulders, her heart, and made her muscles relax…
"We know what they want. Etemon and Babyface." Meg informed.
"If we just wait for them to make a move, we can intercept and get them back."
"But it might take too long…" Mel fretted.
"What if he DOES hurt Steph?"
"He won't. Steph's a tough cookie." Jenny assured, smiling.
"Remember when she beat the entire wrestling team? Or was banned from the self-defense club because she hurt the 'dummy' too much?"
Mel smiled weakly, nodding at the memories…
"If anyone can hold out against that bucket of bolts, it'd be Steph."
"We could defeat Etemon first…" Mel realized.
"Maybe if we did that, he wouldn't need to hold her anymore, and set her and Biyomon free!"
"We're not strong enough." Meg admitted.
"We'll think of something." Jenny interrupted.
TJ watched the main section of the group, noting the worried looks on their faces.
"Toko?"
"Hm?"
"Do you think we can get Stephie and Biyomon back?"
"Of course we will!"
"Don't worry, Tammy." Gabumon soothed.
"We'll get them back before you know it."
"I'll make sure of it!" Agumon agreed.
"You don't worry about a thing, TJ. We'll take care of it." Gomamon added.
"Why don't you just rest? We'll sleep with you." Palmon offered.
"We'll make sure nothing else happens. Promise." Tentomon added.
TJ nodded, yawning tiredly and rubbing her eye as she rested her head on Gabumon's warm fur.
Curled up on the ground, she felt Tokomon curl into her arms as the other Digimon settled around her.
It didn't take very long for the warm circle to doze, soon in a restful slumber, and Meg sighed in relief to see them so far-gone.
"If I hadn't been so afraid, I could've saved Steph…" Tonya grumbled.
"I shouldn't have been afraid. Being afraid always messes things up!"
"You can't help being afraid." Mel replied.
"It's normal. Everyone's scared of something."
"You're not scared of anything if you're brave."
"You're not Supergirl!" Jenny nearly shouted.
"You're only human, even here! Of course you'll be afraid of death!"
Meg put a hand on her friend's shoulder, and caught her gaze.
"Being brave doesn't mean having no fears. Being brave means facing your fears even though you're afraid."
The words rattled something deep in her heart, a soft voice surfacing speaking with herself, an old audio tape nearly-forgotten…
'You can do anything if you believe you can!'
'Why?'
'Because you're Tonya! If you can't do it, then it'll never get done!'
"…Alright…"
"G-Guys!"
All three looked up as Lizzy stopped at the threshold of the room, looking excited.
"I-I know where Datamon and Yoke took Steph and Biyomon!"
The trio jumped to their feet, waking up TJ and the Digimon, and raced into the room to see what Lizzy had found.
Curious now, the youngest Digidestined followed, Tokomon on her head and the others on her heels.
"I was searching for a way Datamon and Yoke could have gotten away without getting caught by all those Gazimon."
Lizzy smiled brightly as Tentomon stopped at her side, clearly wondering what she'd found.
"I was searching through the maps I'd found of the pyramid…"
A new section of the map, another pyramid, appeared below the one where they'd found Datamon.
"He didn't really go very far. This is a secret lab I found, and I'm sure they ran here. It's the only place Etemon and Babyface wouldn't search."
"They're still in the pyramid?" Mel realized, excited.
"Exactly. They're in the deepest depths, but I'm sure we can make it."
"…Steph's still so close…"
Tonya sighed…
"I know it'll be dangerous, but…I'm going in. I won't ask you guys to come-."
"But we will." Meg assured.
"She's our friend too, remember?" Jenny agreed.
"We're all going to save her." Lizzy piped up.
"All for one and one for all!" TJ stated.
"We'll get her back together!" Mel insisted.
Agumon took hold of his partner's hand, and their eyes locked…
"We can do it, Tonya. Don't you think so?"
A smile crossed her face, and she nodded.
"I'm sure we can do it. Together."
Gold eyes lifted, capturing the group's attention immediately.
"I promise we'll all get through this. No one gets left behind in this family. I'll make sure of it."
Truthfully, no one felt more secure than at that moment, seeing the fiery certainty in their leader's eyes…
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Here's the plan, guys."
Tonya stood with her back to the familiar hologram of the visible pyramid, red dots surrounding it.
"Etemon and Babyface have kicked up security on the outside, and me and Lizzy need to get inside without being seen."
Gesturing to the red dots, she showed how they surrounded the wall they needed to get to as well.
"So Jenny, you and Gomamon are gonna need to cause a distraction. Bomb the pyramid if you have to."
"No problem."
"We've got this!"
"Meg, you and Mel are her back-up. If Etemon and Babyface catch up to you guys, distract him and run."
"We know."
"We won't disappoint you!"
"What about me?" TJ wondered.
"You keep watch. Stay out of trouble, alright?" Meg replied.
"Alright!"
"Lizzy, you've got the directions?" Tonya wondered.
"Yes. The thing is…"
"What?"
The redhead wasn't sure she liked the look that crossed her friend's face…
"After the last passage that leads to Datamon's lab…The final defense…"
Violet eyes dropped to the screen, and Lizzy caught her breathe…
"Is another firewall…"
Tonya froze, remembering the electrified wall and the imminent danger surrounding it…
"Are you going to be alright, Red?" Jenny wondered.
"…I'll be fine…"
Releasing her tension, she turned to see the group.
"I don't care if Devimon and Bloodtongue are guarding that lab, I'm going in!"
Everyone relaxed, trusting her to complete the mission…
"Then let's get out there!" Jenny cheered.
Rushing to the sphinx's mouth, they all got down to the sand, Mel pulling a tan-colored blanket from Lizzy's bag.
As Meg and Jenny took their positions on two sides of the pyramid opposite their entrance, Mel hid the rest with the blanket.
With all of them hidden, a light came from a far-off dune…
"Dolphin!"
It grew, but it didn't seem to catch the attention of the Tyrannomon or Monochromon, their armadillo and fox Spirit Evolutions equally oblivious…
"Jennifer, Spirit Evolve into…TRICKSTER!"
"Gomamon, Digivolve to…IKKAKUMON!!"
Ikkakumon reared up, Trickster on his head, and everyone tensed in preparation…
"Harpoon Torpedo!"
The pyramid shook under the force, and Tonya smiled slightly as Trickster's cheer reached them.
"Take that, you strawberry grub-nutters! Eat our explosives!"
The large Digimon roared, moving to follow the pair, and another light appeared…
"Wolf!"
Tonya was ready to bolt towards the pyramid, her hand on Lizzy's wrist…
"Megan, Spirit Evolve into…FANG!"
"Gabumon, Digivolve to…GARURUMON!!"
As Ikkakumon turned to flee, Garurumon jumped at the straggling Gazimon and Motley, Fang on his back.
"Howling Blaster!"
Chaos broke loose, and the two Spirit Evolutions and their Digimon raced across the sand, the 'guards' on their tails.
"Now!"
Tonya pulled the blonde across the sand, Agumon and Tentomon on their heels and the secret entrance the redhead's focus.
Lizzy found the 'doorway' easily enough, and both looked up to see Garurumon and Ikkakumon almost disappear from sight…
Slipping inside, Tonya took hold of Agumon's hand and followed her friend down the hallways…
Mel watched everything carefully, TJ curled into her side and Palmon's arm on her shoulder blades.
'Come on, guys…Get out of there…'
Etemon's trailer began to move, and her eyes widened to see Etemon onboard.
"They'll need me! Stay here, TJ!"
Standing, she raced towards where she'd last seen the others, Palmon on her heels as her charm began to shine…
"Rabbit!"
The light enveloped her, and she was lifted off the ground…
"Melanie, Spirit Evolve into…LUCKY FEET!"
"Palmon, Digivolve to…TOGEMON!!"
Zooming ahead so fast sand flew up in her wake, Lucky Feet tried to catch up with her friends as Togemon ran after her.
'PLEASE be alright! PLEASE!'
"Harpoon Torpedo!"
As their pursuers were slowed, Trickster's tail stiffened as the rumbling wheels of Etemon's trailer reached her ears.
"Run FASTER, Ikkakumon! I don't wanna be monkey food!"
"Dark Network!"
Explosions rattled the ground behind them, even defeating their enemies, and Ikkakumon stopped to see what was going on.
"Dear paste-fritters…"
"Etemon and Babyface!"
"You little troublemakers!"
"I'm a teenager! It's kinda my thing!" Trickster replied cheekily.
"Then again…BYE!"
As Ikkakumon tried to flee, Etemon was not having any of that.
"Dark Network!"
It stopped them, sand flying up, and Trickster was thrown from her partner's back.
"OW!"
Hitting the sand, she saw Babyface coming towards her, knives in hand…
"I don't think so, red-butt!"
Using her tail, she threw sand in her enemy's face, rolling out of the way of his strike.
"Howling Blaster!"
Babyface barely avoided Fang's fist, which was aimed for his face, and the wolf-girl jumped back to shield her older friend.
"Needle Spray!"
A cloud of dust nearly knocked the baboon-man off his feet, but Lucky Feet didn't land a strike, neither did her partner.
"Weren't there more of you? Or did they run away in fear?"
"That's none of your concern." Fang growled, rushing at him.
Her punch barely missed, but Babyface flipped her over his shoulder, slamming the wolf-girl on her back.
Garurumon was also thwarted, landing beside his partner in a crumpled heap.
"I'll get him!"
Trickster twirled to knock him with her tail, but he grabbed it instead, spinning her off-balance and punching the dolphin-girl in the gut.
Gasping for air, she fell beside her younger friend, Ikkakumon following suit.
"Needle Spray!"
Lucky Feet tried to rush in for another strike, but Babyface tripped her up as Etemon threw the needles back in Togemon's face.
Hitting the sand, the rabbit-girl winced as her own partner fell.
"Love Serenade!"
The attack hit all of them like a boulder, and the transformations fell away like sand as the Digimon Dedigivolved…
A voice issued from the pyramid, and as Etemon and Babyface were distracted, Meg pulled her friends away from the danger.
TJ lifted up the blanket so everyone could slip under, and they hung tight as their enemies realized their prey had disappeared…
It seemed, however, that they were heading back to the pyramid…
Meg sat up, concerned…
'Be careful…'
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tonya jogged down the familiar hallway, Lizzy on her heels as they turned a corner.
The redhead hit the brakes once she realized the weak point they'd been searching for was blocked by rubble.
"I guess Ikkakumon got a little trigger-happy…"
"It could have happened yesterday…Here, we can go this way…"
Heading down another staircase, Tonya took two steps at a time as Agumon took hold of her hand.
Reaching a second hallway, they looked through a hologram-wall to see the Gazimon and Motley running around.
"It looks like they've found us in here." Tonya grumbled.
"We should hurry…We're so close…"
"Which way is the lab?"
"Once we go through here…"
Lizzy pointed out a doorway, leading to an empty hallway.
"We should go down the stairs and find the firewall…The weak point should be directly across from the steps…"
"Let's go-."
The roof began to crumble, and their eyes darted up to see Etemon's feet busting through the stone.
"MOVE!"
Tonya shoved Lizzy and the Digimon through the doorway, jumping after them as Etemon and Babyface fell through to their level.
"Found you."
"Now tell us where Datamon and Yoke are!"
Lizzy's charm began to glow, and she stood in front of her friend protectively…
"Ferret!"
The light surprised Tonya, who stared wide-eyed…
"Elizabeth, Spirit Evolve into…TECHIE!"
"Tentomon, Digivolve to…KABUTERIMON!!"
As the Digimon blocked their path, Techie turned to Tonya and Agumon.
"You two go through to Steph and Biyomon! We'll hold them off!"
"But-!"
"GO!"
There were no reasons to disobey, and every to go, so Tonya could only nod, leading her partner in a run.
"Be careful!"
Taking the steps two at a time, she skidded to a halt at the end…
The same paralyzing fear twined around her heart like barbed vines, and she couldn't even speak.
Agumon looked up at his partner, noting her anxiety, and tugged on her hand…
"I can take care of it, Tonya…"
"…No."
Fists clenched, voices bubbled up in her mind, spurring her forward…
'It's normal. Everyone's scared of something.'
'You're only human, even here! Of course you'll be afraid of death!'
'You can do anything if you believe you can!'
'Because you're Tonya! If you can't do it, then it'll never get done!'
'Being brave doesn't mean having no fears. Being brave means facing your fears even though you're afraid.'
"If I don't do this…If I don't face my fears…They'll always control me."
"Tonya…"
Stopping right before it, Tonya raised her hand, almost touching it…
'Be brave. Be brave.'
"Come on! I know you can do it!"
Her heart picked up, and her hands began to shake…
"Come on! You're TONYA! You can do it!"
It clicked in her head, and she stopped quaking…
'I AM brave.'
Her hand surged forward, going through the weak point easily, and gold eyes snapped open as her crest began to shine.
'I did it!'
A crash, and the pair spun in place to see Etemon on Kabuterimon's head and Babyface with his foot on Techie's back.
"Hey! Pick on someone your own size!"
Charm glowing, Tonya put a hand over it…
"Tiger!"
Techie covered her eyes as the light grew blinding, but it seemed Babyface and Etemon didn't have that kind of experience…
"Tonya, Spirit Evolve into…TAWNY!"
"Agumon, Digivolve to…GREYMON!!"
"Greymon, take care of them!"
"Got it! Go save Steph!"
The tiger-girl nodded, rushing through the firewall and stopping at the sight of a large metal room.
A large super-computer on the opposite end, with two strange 'operating tables', caught her attention first.
Biyomon was strapped to the wall on her left, off the ground, over the table that was over there holding Steph.
There was another one, beside Datamon and Yoke, before the computer screen.
That one didn't have a spark in its dark eyes, any emotion on its face, and Tawny immediately knew it wasn't her friend.
"Steph! Biyo!"
"Tawny! He has my crest, charm and Digivice!"
The tiger-girl hissed, and Yoke tossed his horns threateningly.
"Let them go before I rip your horns out and throw you both through a trash compactor!"
"I don't think so, fool!"
"Once we give this copy the crest, charm and Digivice, she will become the new Stephanie."
A hand came out of the control panel, carrying the tag, crest within, charm, and the red Digivice.
"I don't think so!"
Rushing forward, she flipped over Yoke's charge and snatched them easily, immediately turning to race to her friend.
"I will not allow a CHILD to ruin my plans for revenge!"
The table beneath her, and the floor, disappeared, and Steph cried out as she began to fall…
"STEPH!"
Catching the girl's wrist, Tawny slammed onto the ground on her chest on the edge of the hole.
"Tawny!"
"Hold on!"
Hissing as Yoke stepped harshly onto her back, Datamon stopped just beside them.
"I no longer require the original."
Grabbing their wrists, he tried to pry their grips loose…
"Return what you took from me, and I may spare your friend."
"Whatever you say."
A sharp smirk crossed her face, and she held her closed fist down towards her friend.
"Catch, Steph!"
"NO!"
Fingers closing around all three, the charm began to shine…
"Eagle!"
Yoke backed away at the sudden brightness, and Datamon released his hold…
"Stephanie, Spirit Evolve into…TALON!"
"Biyomon, Digivolve to…BIRDRAMON!!"
As Talon flew up, lifting her friend with her, Birdramon knocked Datamon and Yoke to the ground.
"Welcome back!"
Talon smiled, putting the charm and tag around her neck before clicking the Digivice into place.
"Good to BE back. Let's go, Birdramon!"
The massive bird Digimon knocked down the firewall, coincidentally shocking Etemon and Babyface with the debris.
"Talon! Tawny!"
Techie grinned, happy to see they were alright, and grabbed onto Kabuterimon's horn to swing up.
"Let's get out of here. The others are waiting for us." Tawny decided, jumping up onto Greymon's shoulder.
"Go on, Greymon!"
"Nova Blast!"
As a hole was made in a wall, the trio slowly blasted their way out into the open air.
The others were running towards them, relieved to see they were alright, when a strange wind began to blow.
None of the Digidestined, or their Digimon, felt a pull, but it was dragging the Tyrannomon and Monochromon in.
Moving away from the pyramid in case something blew, Meg and TJ rode with Birdramon, Jenny with Kabuterimon, and Mel on Greymon's opposite shoulder.
Once a decent distance away, everyone disembarked and stared as even the sand moved.
Green light escaped the cracks in the pyramid, and it slowly began to crumble…
Meg's eyes widened as a huge black sphere of cables and wires emerged from the rubble, Etemon hooked up to it.
He seemed pumped, with cables and wires attached to his chest and shoulders, and Tawny shuddered.
"What happened to him?" Techie worried.
"He must have merged with that darkness Datamon almost dropped me into." Talon informed, wings bristling anxiously.
"Where's Babyface?" Tawny noticed.
Something busted through the stone in an explosion of force, and an ashen, towering Babyface stood from the rubble.
"JEBUS…" Jenny whispered.
"Come on! We have to fight!"
Talon took to the air, Techie running after her, as their partners followed.
"Meteor Wing!"
"Electro Shocker!"
Talon dove for Babyface, intent on striking him in the chest, as Techie jumped up to deliver a kick to his stomach.
None of the attacks had any affect, and the Spirit Evolutions were knocked away by a blast of dark energy.
Spinning head-over-heels in the air, Talon barely managed to catch the younger girl before crashing on the sand.
"Dark Network!"
The attack barely grazed them, but Birdramon and Kabuterimon were smacked out of the air by the force.
The attack struck some dunes instead, and they seemed to…
MELT…
"Oh no…"
Mel covered her mouth in shock, Palmon holding onto her shorts.
"What are we going to do?" TJ worried, clinging to her sister's arm.
"Dark Networl!"
The sphinx was struck next, and as it began to disappear, Tawny looked down at her glowing crest…
"There's no way we can stop him." Meg realized.
"If he keeps this up…The whole Digital World…"
Techie winced as her leg protested, and Talon helped her to her feet.
"It'll be destroyed."
"…No. There's something we can do."
Surprised eyes locked onto Tawny, but she ignored them, looking up at Greymon.
"Will you come with me?"
"I'll go with you anywhere, Tawny. No matter what."
Smiling brightly, the redhead nodded.
"Come on, then!"
Running towards Etemon and Babyface, she heard Greymon's thundering footsteps at her back.
"Tawny!"
"What are you doing?"
"Be careful!"
The crest was glowing brighter, taking up some of her vision, and the tiger-girl felt her chest fill with fiery strength.
"You want to fight us?"
"Let's see how you do! Dark Network!"
"Dark Knives!"
Both were nearly knocked down by the assaults, but Tawny held her ground.
"We're not done!"
The energy escaping her crest was almost TANGIBLE…
"We're not going to run! We're not going to stop fighting!"
The energy began to spin around her feet like a tornado, and Greymon was glowing…
"We're going to defeat you because we're not afraid to face you!"
No one could see them clearly anymore…
"Greymon, Digivolve to…METALGREYMON!!"
A column of fire burst up from the sand, surrounding Tawny…
"Transformation of Courage into…"
Bursting from the flames, she hit the sand transformed once more, twin swords in hand and eyes aflame.
"Courageous Tawny!"
Her clothes had changed once more, her crest on the back of her leather jacket, and the group gaped…
"She did it…" Talon whispered.
"Fools. You can not defeat us!"
"We'll show you!"
"Dark Knives!"
"Dark Network!"
Metalgreymon slashed the opposing Digimon's attack with his metal claws, and Courageous Tawny knocked the large knives away.
Once they had disintegrated, she glared up at Babyface, grip tightening on her swords.
'Let's get him, Metalgreymon.'
'I'm with you, Tawny.'
Blades bursting into flame, the tiger-girl crossed them, concentrating on the energy…
"No! Stop!"
"Don't!"
"Giga Blaster!"
"Blazing Courage!"
Swiping both swords, a large flaming X flew towards Babyface, and both Digimon and partner cried out when the attacks struck.
The evil power seemed to make both begin to melt, causing a strange rift to open in the air.
It tried to suck her in, but the tiger-girl grabbed hold of her partner's claw, her own digging into the metal.
"Metalgreymon, hold on!"
"I'm trying, Tawny!"
His feet were lifted off the sand, and their eyes widened as they were pulled through the air…
"Metalgreymon!"
"Tawny!"
The last thing either saw was the Digidestined, looking shocked…
One shout reached their ears before everything disappeared…
"TAWNY!!!"