Staring at the trees and the sidewalk and the benches, Tonya felt her heart stop…
"Oh my God…"
"Where are we, Tonya?"
The redhead blinked, looking down at herself to realize that she was no longer Courageous Tawny.
She was normal again, and Metalgreymon had Dedigivolved to Koromon.
"We're in Central Park…On Earth…"
"Are you sure?"
"I'm sure, Koro…"
Looking up at the leaves and the familiar sky, she breathed out in relief, scooping Koromon up.
"Don't worry, Koro. There's no real danger here."
Smiling reassuringly, she started walking down a path in a slight daze…
"This is home…I'm positive…I came here as a child…With Kitty…"
"We're really in your world? How did we get here?"
"It must have been that rift…Our attacks and Etemon's weird powers must have opened a portal or something…"
"How are we supposed to get back?"
That had Tonya halting immediately, really thinking about the situation as her brain came out of shock.
"…I don't really know…But we'll think of something, right?"
"Right!"
Smiling as she felt Koromon's certainty flood into her, Tonya continued to walk onward.
"This won't be so bad. Maybe we can go by Kitty's favorite antique store and find her there."
"I'll really get to meet your sister?"
"Of course!"
Something moved above her, and she stopped, ears immediately straining to catch the sound again.
"Tonya?"
"Oh, it must have been nothing…I'm just paranoid after all that time in the Digital World…"
Shaking off the feeling of being watched, she continued out of the park, looking around.
It was still sinking in that she was back in New York City…
"Where are we going?"
"Oh…Uh…This way…"
Turning right, she started down the sidewalk, easily sliding through the swarm of people as if she'd never left New York.
Instinct took over, and she weaved through the people easily as Koromon looked around in amazement.
He'd never seen so many humans!
Truthfully, he'd always thought the group had been the only humans in either world…
Children clung to their parents, looking fearfully at Koromon and some even starting to cry.
Tonya started to notice, and covered the Digimon as best she could before slipping into an alley.
"What's wrong, Tonya?"
"Nothing, Koro…"
"Why were those children crying?"
"Um…WELL…"
"Were they scared of me?"
"…Kind of…"
"Why?"
Koromon couldn't understand why anyone should fear him at all in his current form.
He was practically harmless, even to humans, and not very threatening-looking either.
"Kids have wild imaginations. It's nothing personal, Koro."
"What do you mean? Do you mean they think I'll bite them?"
"It's nothing, Koro." She replied vehemently.
"Just because someone's scared of you for no reason doesn't mean you have to give a flying shit."
"Tonya?"
Her eyes were steely, clearly upset, and he listened to her loud heartbeat against his ear…
"You're a great friend, and if they can't think to try and see that, it's their loss!"
"Tonya."
Her tirade was halted by his soft voice, and Tonya blinked before locking eyes with Koromon.
"It's alright. I don't care as long as you still like me the way I am."
"Aw, Koro…"
"Well, would you look at this, boys!"
Tonya immediately tensed, gold eyes narrowing as three gang members approached from the darker end.
They were Purple Dragons, the tattoos on their arms proved it.
"Tonya?"
Covering Koromon's mouth, she started backing towards the alley mouth, seeing one of them toting a metal pipe.
'CRAP-CRAP-CRAP!'
"It's a little girl and her toy!"
"Hey! Who are you calling little?!" She growled, clearly not amused.
"OOOH, she's a fiery one, boss."
"Why don't you come over here and we'll have some fun, sweetheart?"
"Go fuck yourself!"
Koromon stared up at his partner in surprise, having never heard any of them swear.
Jenny had clearly swore before, but hers were more creative, using no true curses or venom.
Was this a dangerous situation?
Did he need to protect her?
"Don't be like that, honey."
He reached for her arm, and the redhead moved back sharply, kicking a trashcan into his shins.
As the Purple Dragons toppled over, Tonya ducked to avoid his friend's grabs.
"You little-!"
"Get back here!"
"I don't think so!"
Running down the alley was her only option, and Tonya took it without hesitation.
Unfortunately, one of them grabbed her arm, tossing the redhead into a wall.
Wincing, she bared her teeth in a warning snarl as the Purple Dragon held her to the brick by her shoulder.
Shadows jumped down from the fire escape above, but it was Koromon that jumped into action first.
"Bubble Blow!"
The gangster fell back in surprise, and the shadows jumped on the three Purple Dragons as Tonya caught her partner.
Adrenaline still pounding through her system, the redhead stared as she realized that her saviors weren't human at all…
"Who are they?" Koromon wondered, blinking in amazement.
'Guess they're not Digimon or Spirit Evolutions then…'
Tonya didn't move as the humanoid turtles turned to return her stare, and she tilted her head in a curious manner.
"Hi."
Her casual tone seemed to catch them off-guard, and one stepped closer, sheathing katana.
"You're not afraid?"
Looking him straight in the eye, she felt her guard fall almost instinctively, as if she knew no harm would come to her now…
"Why would I be? You guys saved us a whole lot of trouble."
"Us?" Another wondered, putting some sort of staff onto his shell.
"Me and Koromon. You know, the little pink head I'm carrying around?"
"EW…Why are you carrying a HEAD around, dudette?"
"He's not dead!" She replied hastily.
"It's just the way he is in this form!"
"Ya got a lot 'a explainin' ta do."
"I'm starting to get that…"
"Isn't April's place near here?"
Tonya perked, the name ringing a bell in her head…
"April O'Neil?"
"You know her?"
"My sister goes to her antique shop all the time."
Gold eyes lit up, and she was almost vibrating with energy…
"Is my sister there?"
"You mean little Katharine? April talks about her, says she came after her parents went to work even though she's sick."
"She did what?!"
Her brain sparked with urgency, and the redhead looked ready to bolt towards '2nd Time Around' without a second thought.
"I should've KNOWN she'd do that!"
"Calm down."
The blue-masked turtle put his hands on her shoulders to keep the redhead from panicking.
"We'll take you, alright?"
After a moment, she grasped her self-control and nodded, her muscles no longer shaking with tension.
Nodding, Tonya's arms tightened around Koromon, who could only grunt slightly.
"TONYA, I can't BREATHE…"
"Oh, sorry…"
The orange-masked turtle stared at the Digimon in wide-eyed surprise as his 'older' comrade offered her to ride on his shell.
"It can talk?"
"HE can talk. And his name's Koromon."
No more words were shared as the turtles jumped up onto the fire escape, Tonya wrapping one arm around the turtle's shoulders.
She felt weightless, light as a feather, as he carried her, and squeezed her knees around his shell to hold on more tightly.
They hadn't been as far from the antique shop as Tonya had thought, and they got in the shop from the back.
It seemed that the store was empty, so the turtles felt it safe enough to walk in.
The redheaded woman behind the counter raised her head, curious as to why her ninja friends had decided to visit her…
Until she saw Tonya…
"Tonya? I thought you went on a trip with your grandmother and friends."
"Long story…"
"Ton-Ton?"
Gold eyes locked on the young girl that walked around some shelves, and the redhead couldn't remember feeling so relieved in her life…
"Kitty…"
A smile lit up the preteen's face, and she raced to hug her sister around the waist.
"You came back!"
"Yeah…I have some stuff I need to tell you about, Kitty…"
"About your trip to the Digital World?"
Tonya stiffened in surprise, staring down at her sister in shock…
"How did you…?"
"Where else would you find a Koromon?"
"Um…The toy store?"
"TON-TON…"
"Why don't you explain upstairs?" April offered, clearly intrigued as she flipped the sign on her front door.
"I wouldn't ask you to do that, April-."
"It's no trouble. Up you go."
As the older woman herded the six teens up to her apartment above the shop, and had them settle on the couch as she went to make some drinks.
"So, who are you guys?"
"I am Leonardo."
"I'm Mikey!"
"Donatello, but you can call me Don."
"Raphael."
"Now that we all know each other…What IS he?" Mikey questioned.
"Koromon? He's a Digimon."
Blank stares…
"It's a long story…"
"We're listening." Leo assured.
"I just need to know something…What's the date?"
Don blinked in confusion as Kitty sat beside her sister on the couch.
"Ton-Ton, its June 6th. You left for the cabin today."
Gold eyes widened, and Tonya closed her eyes, really thinking it over…
"That's impossible…"
"Why? Somethin' 'appen?"
"I've been in the Digital World for months. I JUST got back."
"The Digital World?" Don wondered.
"It's a parallel shadow world or something like that…I don't know how to explain it, really. I'm not the one who figured it all out."
Tonya sighed, putting a hand on her forehead.
"Koromon is from there?" Leo prodded.
"Yup! I'm a Digital Monster, Digimon for short!" Koromon answered.
"There's more than Digimon there. There are Spirit Evolutions that bond with Digimon, too."
"Spirit Evolutions?" Don questioned.
"Like weird animal/human hybrids that are spiritually connected with a particular Digimon. There was one that looked like she was part spider, one that was part snake…"
"An' what's the point 'a that?"
"I don't know. It's just a…RULE or something there. Once a Digimon reaches a certain level, it needs a partner."
"Level? Like in a video game?"
"No, I don't think so…Digimon take on different forms by Digivolving. There's a baby form, In-Training, like Koromon, Champion and then Ultimate."
"Is Koromon your partner?" Leo asked.
"Yeah. When we went to the Digital World, we could evolve into Spirit Evolutions when they went to Champion."
"Why would ya be dragged there? Fer shits an' giggles?"
"No…We're the Digidestined, and we were brought there to save it from evil. You know, the normal prophecy thing about awesome superheroes saving the innocent."
"COOL…" Mikey whistled.
"Why are you here then?" April questioned, putting down a tray of coffee, hot chocolate, and tea.
"We were fighting an evil Digimon and his partner…"
Tonya breathed out as Kitty hugged her side, Koromon looking up at her…
"We managed to beat him, but our attacks opened a rift…And we were suddenly HERE…The others didn't come through…"
"You've been through a lot, sweetheart. Why don't I make you some lunch?"
"April, I couldn't possibly ask you to-."
"Sure!"
"Koro, that's rude!"
"But I'm hungry!"
"Well, you can just deal!"
"But TONYA…"
He tried to hop off her lap, but Tonya held firm, getting pulled off the couch for her effort.
"Lesson number one!" She managed as Koromon began dragging her to the kitchen…
"Unless you're a Digimon's partner, DO NOT get between it and food!"
Mikey snorted as she was dragged behind the counter, and the sound of wrestling ensued.
Tonya popped up behind it, smiling sheepishly.
"You wouldn't happen to have anything to eat? Koromon's kinda-."
She winced.
"OW! KORO, MY FINGER IS NOT FOOD! He's kinda hungry."
"There should be some oranges…"
Tonya immediately grabbed one, tossing it into the air so Koromon jumped up and ate it, skin and all.
"EW…" Mikey voiced.
"Digimon don't particularly care." The redhead admitted.
Kitty giggled, and Koromon hopped up onto her lap, turning to face his partner.
"Oh, alright…You're such a little pig…" Tonya teased, grabbing three more oranges.
It was like watching the interaction between close friends, seeing the ease and care between them.
"How are you planning on getting back?" Don wondered.
Tonya paused a moment, hesitated, before giving Koromon another orange to eat.
"I don't know…"
Sighing, she rubbed her eye to fight back the drowsy feeling that was coming from Koromon…
"Tonya, why don't you rest? We'll be quiet." April offered.
"No, no…I'm fine…"
Yawning, the redhead was starting to lean to one side when Leo lifted her up.
"Thanks…" She muttered, already falling asleep.
"It's alright."
The blue-masked turtle put her into one of April's guest rooms, laying her carefully on the bed, when he noticed something.
There were faint scars on her legs, like badly-healed cuts, with a strange spot on her leg that looked like a very pale skin-colored bruise…
Carefully, he touched it with his fingertips, pulling back when she flinched in pain and Koromon cried out in the other room.
'Spiritually linked…'
It made sense now, what she'd said…
'Spirit Evolutions are linked to Digimon with their SPIRITS. Whatever one feels, the other does as well.'
Walking back to the main room, he found Kitty petting the Digimon's head soothingly, seeming to take away his foreign pain.
"What do you know about the Digital World?" Don wondered, crouching down to the girl's level.
The twelve year old looked up, with strangely all-knowing eyes that made her seem older than her years…
"It's near the cabin. And the twin towers. Where they were, actually…"
"How is it near there?"
"It's everywhere. The computer can make Digieggs come."
"Now yer tellin' me 'e came from an egg?"
Kitty nodded, and Raph grumbled, rubbing his brow to fight back a headache.
Koromon was dozing already, but he woke up enough to eat some food that April offered.
"What do you think about this, Donnie?" Mikey asked.
"It's possible…The Battle Nexus a couple years ago proves that there's such a thing as other worlds. This one just seems more connected."
"But there are still people there. How would we get them here? Or Tonya back over there?" Leo wondered.
"I'm not sure. Maybe if we had the person that figured out everything about it…Still, they're stuck IN the Digital World."
"Why don't we just 'ave 'em bust 'nother rift thin' an' they can get back that way?"
"Raph, it's not that easy. It would take unimaginable energy. Besides, their energy probably mixed with their enemy's to open it."
Kitty was smiling, playing Patty Cake with Koromon, as April sat down, turning on the news.
No one really paid much attention, but they heard a gasp from the hallway.
All heads turned to see Tonya, who was staring, wide-eyed and shocked, at the TV…
"It's Meramon and Silverwing…"
Gazes following hers, the turtles almost jumped to see a giant flaming Digimon on the screen, a winged girl hovering over his shoulder…
As they disappeared, the picture changed to a desert village being hit by a flood, a large sea dragon and alligator-girl in the water…
"Seadramon and Razorjaw…"
It changed again, showing a snowing tropical city, a large snowman and a broad-chest bear-like man at his side…
"Frigimon and Bearclaw…"
"Finally, someone else can see them, too."
Everyone snapped around to stare at Kitty, who was hugging Koromon as her eyes were trained on the screen…
"Mom and dad didn't believe me when I started seeing Digimon and Spirit Evolutions on the TV…"
"How long?" Tonya managed to ask.
"Since the climates began to shift. No one else could see them."
The redhead leaned on the doorframe, and the pieces began to click into place…
"It's happening here, too…"
"What is?" Raph demanded.
"The Digital World and Earth are connected…If something happens to one, it happens to the other…"
"Because the Digital World is in danger, so is Earth?" Mikey worried.
The redhead nodded numbly…
"If I was in the Digital World, all we'd have to do is defeat the evil Digimon and all that…But I don't know how to get back…"
Something started beeping, and she lifted up her Digivice, stunned to see the screen shining so suddenly.
The microwave and the TV, even the clocks, began to go on the fritz, and Koromon tensed in preparation for an attack…
April jumped when the computer suddenly turned on, static making the image unclear at first, until the voice finally came through...
"TONYA!"
"It's Lizzy!" She realized, jumping to reach it first.
"Lizzy! Lizzy, are you okay? What's going on?!"
"Where are you?"
"I'm safe! I'm back on Earth with Koromon!"
"Then the-."
The static rushed up, and her hold on the screen threatened to bend the casing.
"LIZZY!"
"Don't-Come back-Too dangerous-Safer-Where you are-."
"I'm not leaving you guys! Tell me how to get back!"
"Better off-There-."
The screen died, and she froze for a long moment before her shoulders slumped in defeat…
Kitty stood up, Koromon in her arms, blue eyes shining with worry.
"Ton-Ton?"
"Tonya? What are we gonna do?" The Digimon wondered.
"…I don't know…"
She sounded so defeated that even Raph felt sympathy for her.
It was obvious her friends were in some kind of danger, and she was in no shape to help them at all.
"..."
Staring down at her Digivice, Tonya slumped against a wall…
"…I know this thing is powerful enough to get me there…It did before…"
Her eyes shimmered with tears, but she held them in as her hand clenched over the orange device.
"Why won't it take me there again?"
"Tonya…Maybe you should relax." April fretted.
"Putting so much pressure on yourself is keeping you from thinking clearly."
"Yeah…I just need to relax…" Tonya muttered, muscles slowly loosening.
Koromon hopped from Kitty's arms to his partner's, and she caught him more on instinct than anything else.
"Why don't you try and meditate?" Leo offered, hoping to help her.
Something about her clearly pulled at his heartstrings, and she was undoubtedly distraught.
It was obvious the teen wasn't usually this troubled, and he couldn't help wanting to soothe her worries.
"Alright…I'll try…"
Allowing herself to be led towards the now-free couch, Tonya slid into the lotus position on the soft cushions.
Leo took a similar position on her left, and she tried to relax…
As the mist of panic and pain and worry began to thin, her heart rate slowed and her breathing evened out…
Her grandmother had taught her how to meditate as a child, to help her through the panic attacks she'd been prone to.
It seemed she hadn't lost her touch, even after all these years.
Kitty sat on the floor, back against the couch, as Koromon closed his eyes and let his partner's calm wash over him…
Mikey was the first to notice a light over her chest, and sat up sharply.
"Dudes, look!"
Her tiger charm was shining brightly, and Leo noticed, even though the veil of meditation.
It was almost hovering in the air in front of her chest, and the crest she wore was beginning to blink…
Tonya seemed completely lost in her trance, as was Koromon, so neither noticed what was going on.
Before anyone could snap her out of it, the whole building shook, knocking the redhead and her Digimon off the couch.
Her Digivice was beeping like crazy, and Tonya scrambled to her feet to find out what was going on…
Looking outside, gold eyes widened at the sight a few streets away…
"Tyrannomon and his Spirit Evolution…"
The large red Digimon seemed almost static-like, inconsistent, and turned his head to the right…
"Blaze Blast!"
Everyone winced as everything shook once more, and the redhead looked back at Koromon on the floor.
"We've got to go!"
"Tonya!"
"Where are you going?"
"Tyrannomon got here through some sort of portal! If I find it-!"
Nearly slipping on the steps as Koromon jumped onto her shoulder, Tonya looked back.
"I can get back to the Digital World!"
"Ton-Ton-!"
"Kitty, you stay here! It's not safe!"
As she disappeared to the shop below, Tonya shouted up the stairwell…
"Watch her for me!"
The turtles shared a glance before staring at Kitty, who had a determined look on her face…
"…I think she's found a loophole…" Leo muttered.
Tonya burst out of '2nd Time Around', Koromon under her arm, and rushed towards where she saw Tyrannomon.
'Maybe I can really get back! Then I can fix this!'
She'd ALMOST reached her target, when he just…
Disappeared…
Skidding to a halt, she stared at the empty space, heart dropping painfully into her stomach.
"NO…"
"Tonya, look out!"
The ground exploded down the street, and Tonya whirled around to see what had caused it.
"Drimogemon and Digger!"
They disappeared as quickly as they'd come, and the redhead looked around to see a deserted street.
'No one's here to see…'
"We have to get back!"
"Even if I did, I can't help you…"
Looking down at Koromon in surprise, gold eyes sparked in surprise.
"Koro?"
"Even after all the food I've eaten, I can't seem to Digivolve…You don't need me…"
"Of course I do! We need each other!"
"I'll go back alone, then. I don't want to pull you away from Kitty again…"
"I'm not running away! We're in this together! Don't you remember, Koro?"
"I don't want to hurt you, Tonya."
"It'll hurt me more if you leave me here alone!"
"TON-TON!"
Pausing, both turned to see Kitty running towards them, the turtles following from the shadows the buildings made.
"Kitty?! I told you to stay at April's!"
"I had to come! I want to go with you!"
"No! I told you, it's too dangerous!"
Her eyes locked on the turtles.
"How could you let her come out here! She could be in trouble-!"
"Tonya!"
Koromon's shout startled her, and she followed his gaze, as well as the turtles', to a Digimon and Spirit Evolution across the street…
"Ogremon and Poisontail…" Tonya breathed, surprised.
"What are they waitin' fer?"
Gold eyes flickered around, and froze on the street light…
"They're waiting for the light to change…"
Kitty clung to her sister's waist, and Leo stepped closer to the pair, one hand on his katana.
"What do we do?"
"Maybe if we just wait…They'll disappear like the others…"
Koromon tensed at her feet, in case her theory was wrong, and Tonya carefully positioned herself in front of Kitty…
The light turned green, and the two strange wraiths charged so fast the redhead almost couldn't keep up.
"GET DOWN!"
Taking Poisontail's pounce in the chest, she tumbled, wrestling with her tail and dodging the sharp fangs.
Ogremon's club tried to come down on Koromon, and the little Digimon dodged as the sidewalk exploded.
"Tonya!"
"We'll help you, dudette!"
"Don't!" She snarled, kicking Poisontail in the stomach and putting her hand just below her opponent's jaw.
"I can handle this! Take care of Kitty!"
Kitty looked from Tonya to Koromon fearfully, seeing the two Digimon jumping from building to building…
Struggling to keep Poisontail's deadly fangs from her neck, the tiger-girl snarled in challenge as they wrestled, ending up in the street.
"Bubble Blow!"
A right hook to the face, and Poisontail wrapped her tail around Tonya's torso, squeezing her lungs in retaliation.
Gasping in pain, her vision began to blur…
"K-Koro…!"
"Tonya! Hold on!"
"I-I can't…"
Tonya began to flail, still holding her opponent's long, poison-filled fangs from her neck…
"K-Koro, Digivolve…!"
"I can't! You need to use the Digivice!"
"I-I'm kinda…BUSY…"
Raph almost charged, but Leo grabbed his arm.
True, he wanted to help her as well, but it would cause more trouble than help…
Koromon hit the wall of a building, and Ogremon caught up faster than expected…
His club struck the In-Training Digimon into the air, and Tonya gasped at the foreign pain.
"KORO!"
Her Digivice shone bright as a star…
"Koromon, Digivolve to…"
A hole of light opened in the sky above them, making the rest of the wide expanse darken, as it sucked up rubble…
"AGUMON!!"
Landing on a streetlamp, Agumon stayed crouched as Ogremon looked down at him from a balcony.
Tonya felt strength flood through her limbs, and both enemies tried to land a fatal blow at the same moment…
"Pepper Breath!"
Tonya kicked Poisontail into the air, and the force of the rift's suction lifted both her and Ogremon through.
Sitting up, Tonya rubbed her chest, glad to feel oxygen fill her lungs, and looked up at her Digimon.
"Agu…"
Getting to her feet, her head snapped up to see him start floating up…
"AGU!"
"I have to go back, Tonya…"
His eyes almost shimmered…
"Goodbye…"
"Agu, wait! I'm coming with you!"
As he disappeared from sight, she almost ran forward when Kitty caught her wrist…
"Ton-Ton…"
Looking back in surprise, she relaxed when the younger girl hugged her around the waist, burying her face in her elder sister's back.
"Please don't get hurt…"
"…I promise…"
Squeezing Kitty's hand reassuringly, she locked eyes with Leo…
"I'm sure you'll be taken care of…But I have to go now…"
Digivice a steady, vibrating force in her hand, it began to lift Tonya into the air…
"I'll be sure to come back, Kitty…Don't worry…"
"I know you will…"
A smile crossed her face as Kitty's arms slid away from her as the Digivice pulled her higher…
"Goodbye for now…"
No longer being held, Tonya floated into the bright circle in the sky, and it closed after her.
Don was frozen, brain whirring to keep up with what he'd seen, as Mikey put a hand on Kitty's shoulder.
"Come on, mini-dudette. Let's get you home."
After a moment, she nodded, letting him lift her onto his shell so the orange-masked turtle could carry her.
Raph turned, pulling Don along as he followed Mikey, and paused to find Leo hadn't moved.
The blue-masked turtle still stood there, watching the sky intently, as if that alone would open it once more…
"Yo, Fearless. What's up?"
"…Do you think she'll be alright?"
"Didn't ya see 'er kick that snake's ass? She'll be fine."
"…I hope so…"
With a sigh, the blue-masked turtle followed his brother, slipping into shadow…
'Be careful, Tonya…'