As the mountainous terrain passed by them slowly, Lizzy was focused on their current dilemma.
They'd been looking for Gennai a while, and her mind was going through all of the courses of action they could take.
For now, it seemed walking around rather aimlessly would have to do…
Though it caused Lizzy to become fidgety, almost paranoid, it was all she could do.
Without her friends to count on for protection, the blonde always felt unnaturally exposed…
"Lizzy?"
Violet eyes snapped to the bug Digimon, and she relaxed a bit, smiling shyly.
"Yeah, Tento?"
"Could we take a break? We've been walking like this for days!"
"I'm sorry, Tento…But we need to at least find shelter before resting…"
"We could sit on rocks."
Giggling at his mock-desperation, Lizzy stopped, also feeling his weariness.
After a moment of thought, she crouched down, offering her back for the Digimon to climb up.
"I can carry you for a while…Until we find a place to rest…"
After a moment, Tentomon accepted the offer and scrambled up, arms wrapping around her neck as she supported his legs.
Standing up once more, she continued up the mountain path, making sure her Digimon didn't slip off.
Tentomon settled against the warmth of her skin, already dozing as the steady heartbeat lulled him…
He'd always felt content, even lucky, to have such an understanding partner at his side.
Lizzy never yelled at him, never pushed him too hard, and usually went without to provide for him.
Though he never took the offer, it was nice to know how much she really cared for him.
Lizzy was self-conscious however, humble beyond her years and very aware of how small she was in the universe.
Tentomon could never explain to her how much he loved her, how she was the best thing he could ever imagine in the whole world.
To him, she was pretty and smart and caring and wise and understanding…
How could someone say anything bad about her?
From what he'd heard, mainly from Mel before they'd split up, was that Lizzy often got picked on.
Mainly by one girl, who was Jenny's age and an overall jerk.
If he ever met that girl…
"Tento?"
"Hm?"
Snapping out of his thoughts, the Digimon noticed Lizzy looking over her shoulder towards him, seeming worried.
"Are you feeling alright? You've been quiet for a while…"
"Oh, I'm fine! How about you?"
"I'm holding up…"
Still, he could feel the strain she was beginning to hide, and she felt almost too hot…
Hoping to distract her, he hiked himself up to rest his chin on her shoulder.
"What will you ask Gennai when we find him?"
"I want to know about the crests…Does each one have a meaning? How do we make them glow?"
Lifting it into her palm carefully, the blonde sighed, the purple crest shimmering in the sunlight.
"…There's still so much I want to know…"
"You already know so much. Where does it all go?"
"I'm not sure…"
Lizzy giggled, stepping over some larger rocks and weaving around a boulder.
"But everyone says I have the memory of an elephant."
"An elephant?"
"An animal from Earth. There's a saying, 'An elephant never forgets'. Tonya…"
Her smile fell slightly…
"Tonya would always joke about how I never forgot anything…"
Tentomon nuzzled her neck, distracting Lizzy from her thoughts of the lost leader.
"I'm sure everyone's fine, Lizzy. And once we find Gennai, we can find the others."
"Yeah…"
Letting Tentomon fly to the ground, she straightened her back, rubbing her neck tiredly.
"You know what I've always liked about you?"
"No…What, Tento?"
"That you're always looking for new things to learn, and use them to help others."
A shy smile, a blush across her cheeks, and Lizzy led them down the path as it leveled out, clearly embarrassed.
"What's the point of knowing something and not sharing that knowledge?"
"I wouldn't know. If I feel something, I tell you."
"Really?"
Lizzy stopped, curiosity flashing in her eyes so they looked like gems.
"Why? You don't have to tell me everything…"
"But I want to. You help me understand things, and it makes me feel useful."
"Oh, Tento…"
Hugging her partner, the blonde smiled sweetly.
"You don't have to feel that way! I've always liked you the way you are!"
"Aw, Lizzy…"
"If you want to talk just to talk, I'm still here for you."
"I know."
"Want to help me look?"
"For a sandwich?"
Lizzy giggled, shaking her head as she stood to her full height.
"No, silly. A sign."
"Oh…"
Tentomon looked around for a moment, and the blonde was about to continue up the path…
"Hey, there's a sign!"
"From above?"
"No, here on the ground."
Smiling at that, she turned fully to see whatever her partner had found, curious.
"What's this doing here?"
"Leading our way?"
"Maybe…"
Crouching down to read it better, Lizzy tilted her head, confusion crossing her face…
"'Beware of Falling Sludge'?"
"Falling sludge?"
They both shuddered at the thought, Tentomon trying to shake it from his mind.
"I say we go this way!"
"Good idea…"
The pair didn't get ten feet before spotting a second sign…
"'Beware of Bottomless Sludge Pit'."
A shudder of disgust, and Lizzy shrunk into herself as Tentomon attempted to exorcise the thought out of his mind.
"This way looks clear!"
Following her partner quickly, the blonde only skidded to a halt when she spotted ANOTHER sign.
"'Beware of Attack Sludge'?"
"How embarrassing, being attacked by an attack sludge!"
"…Uh, Tento?"
"Yes?"
"When did all these signs get here?"
Beginning to look around, Tentomon found that they were, in fact, surrounded by signs.
"There's sludge everywhere we turn!"
Lavender eyes widened when Lizzy felt the ground give an inch beneath her feet…
"Tento?"
It cracked asunder, rock flying up to block their vision as gravity took a savage hold…
"TENTO!!!"
"LIZZY!!!"
Catching her ankle, the bug Digimon tried to fly back up, wings buzzing furiously.
"We're falling faster!"
The realization made him pause, shell clicking closed, as Lizzy stared down in wonder.
"I-It's bottomless…"
"That doesn't matter, are you alright?"
"I'm fine…"
The darkness was becoming overwhelming now, trying to crawl into her very being…
All Lizzy could do was scream.
Suddenly, life floats caught them both, lifting both girl and Digimon back into the semi-light.
"You be careful, now!"
"All who are greedy and have a desire go straight to Hell!"
"H-Hell? Why would you want to send us to Hell?" Lizzy stuttered.
"For wanting to know too much, of course!"
"You're greedy heart is growing with your curious desire!"
"I-I'm sorry…"
"Don't be sorry, Lizzy! It's your curiosity that makes you who you are!" Tentomon pleaded.
"B-But…"
"The only way to save you two is to get rid of it!"
"Give us your greedy heart!"
"Lizzy, DON'T!"
The flotation device she was riding burst unexpectedly, and she reached out for her Digimon.
"LIZZY!!!"
Her hand caught his ankle, stopping her descent as he flapped his arms in desperation.
"Do you WANT to fall into Hell?"
"NO!" Lizzy shouted, frightened for her partner more than herself.
"Lizzy, hold on! I'll get us out of here!"
"W-We can't…"
"We CAN!"
"How?"
"See, you're doing it again!"
"She's a lost cause!"
Tentomon's own floating apparatus burst, and both tumbled down into the darkness…
"HELP!!!"
"Wish out your heart!"
Closing her eyes, Lizzy wished as hard as she could…
"I don't want to know!"
What looked like a purple sac phased out of her chest, and Tentomon saw the light leave her eyes as they opened…
"I don't want to…know…"
One by one, stars began to glow softly in the vastness of space, galaxies and planets and comets coming into perspective.
Tentomon spun a moment to fully digest their surroundings, pausing when he didn't see his partner follow suit.
He found their bond was icy cold…
"Lizzy?"
The bug Digimon was concerned, seeing the dull violet eyes and blank expression.
Usually like gems, shimmering with warmth and curiosity and knowledge, her eyes seemed more like the fallen petals of a forgotten flower…
"Are you alright? Speak to me!"
A crescent moon shone against the stars, revealing two forms…
"It's Vademon and Swindle!"
The alien Digimon and his black-furred, tailed partner came clearly into view, and Tentomon's wings buzzed furiously.
"Now that we've gotten the trash out of here…"
Swindle smirked as his partner sucked the sac into his gun…
"We can begin."
"You don't need a heart. It's useless baggage. We don't like baggage in our universe."
"Here's a book on all you need to know."
The green-covered book fell into her hand, and Lizzy sluggishly took hold of it.
"All you need to know. Whether you like it or not."
He deflated, hearing her monotone voice…
No shyness, no humility, no understanding, no excitement, no love…
Lizzy was like a zombie, lifeless and aimless, in a trance she couldn't seem to free herself from.
"Lizzy?"
"Enjoy yourselves!"
"Have fun!"
As Vademon and Swindle disappeared from sight, Tentomon couldn't pull his eyes away from her.
"In order to be one with the universe, you must erase your thoughts."
His heart tightened in pain, crying out to it's unresponsive partner…
"It is important to breathe into your thoughts until they disintegrate and slowly turn into mush."
"But your thoughts make up who you are! You mustn't erase them!"
She didn't seem to hear him, and he saw familiar concentration cross the teen's face…
"NO!"
Grabbing the blonde's arm, Tentomon tugged harshly enough so her grip slackened on the cover.
"Let go of me!"
The uncharacteristic shout stunned the Digimon, who also did not expect to be shoved away.
Seeing anger in the normally gentle amethyst eyes, he deflated, floating a moment in silence…
"Lizzy…"
Tone hurt, he saw something familiar glitter in the farthest depths of her eyes…
Sympathy, regret, pain…
Lizzy was still awake in there, somewhere, unable to break free…
She was suppressed once more, and violet eyes returned to the book.
'Lizzy…I know you're in there…I'll save you…'
The purple Digivice began to beep, screen blinking with the high-pitched sound, and Tentomon perked.
"A transmission?"
Taking Lizzy's laptop with no resistance, he opened it as the screen filled with static…
Then a familiar face…
"LIZZY!!"
"Tonya?!"
"Tonya."
Lizzy floated to his side, looking at the screen with an expressionless, half-lidded look.
"Lizzy! Lizzy, are you okay? What's going on?!"
"I'm fine. How about you?"
"I'm safe! I'm back on Earth with Koromon!"
"Then the universe is clutter-free."
"LIZZY!"
"Don't bother coming back, Tonya. It's too dangerous for you to clutter the universe."
"I'm not leaving you guys! Tell me how to get back!"
"You're better off there."
Cutting off the signal with ease, the blonde floated away once more as Tentomon stared at the blank screen in shock.
"Lizzy, Tonya was asking for your help."
"Oh well."
"She's your friend!"
"There's no such thing."
Snapping the laptop closed, Tentomon watched her go…
"Oh Lizzy…I'm so sorry you had to save ME instead…"
A thought burned deep in his heart, and the bug Digimon nursed it thoughtfully…
'Vademon and Swindle took you away from me…But I'll get you back.'
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"A…B…C…D…E…F…G…"
Watching curiously as Lizzy contorted herself into the letters, Tentomon finally voiced his thoughts.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm focusing my brainwaves by repeating basic fundamentals. So I would rather you not disturb me."
The Digimon fell silent as she continued…
"H…I…J…K…L…M…N…"
'I miss you, Lizzy…' Tentomon admitted to himself.
'I miss the way you'd hug me, talk with me, comfort me…'
Their bond had long gone numb, and the energy they used to share was cut off.
He was weakening, movements slowing and thoughts blurring together…
'Lizzy…'
If he ever needed to be held, it was now…
He just wanted to fall asleep, lulled by her steady heartbeat and unyielding presence…
As insecure as she normally was, Lizzy was a constant in every situation she involved herself in.
To suddenly have that GONE…
It made Tentomon's heart ache, his soul calling out forlornly for its other half so the loneliness would subside…
Something flickered through their bond, like a sudden jolt of electricity, and he perked.
"W…X…Y…"
Her tempo had slowed, her movements difficult, and hope rose in his chest like butterfly wings.
'She's fighting it!'
"...Z…"
"Come on, Lizzy! I know you can do it! I KNOW you can!"
The crescent moon reappeared, breaking the weak Lizzy's concentration so the 'zombie' took back full control.
'No…'
"There's something I forgot to mention to you."
"In order to fully improve yourself, you must throw away possessions that are considered excess baggage."
"Such as…"
"Everything you own."
Scraps of paper were pulled out of her pockets, along with spent pens and markers, and Tentomon felt electrified when her hand went to her tag and crest…
"This is expendable."
As it floated away towards Swindle, Tentomon felt the hidden piece of Lizzy's heart cry out with his own in a panic.
"Lizzy, NO!"
Rushing towards the Spirit Evolution, his wings buzzed furiously.
"HAVE YOU GONE BANANAS!?! YOU CAN'T THROW THOSE AWAY!!!"
"What a nice-looking trinket…"
"We'll be taking this."
"GIVE BACK THAT TAG AND CREST, YOU POOR EXCUSE FOR A SPIRIT EVOLUTION!!!"
"Back off, bug! Alien Ray!"
Tentomon cried out as the attack struck, knocking him head-over-heels through space.
Pain flashed across Lizzy's eyes, but she didn't move as Swindle laughed at the futile attempt.
"Continue with your training."
"…Alright…"
After a moment, she went back to her earlier exercise as Tentomon slowed…
"A…B…C…D…"
As Vademon and Swindle retreated once more from their pocket universe, he reached out for her…
"E…F…G…H…I…"
"Lizzy…"
"…J…K-K…L..."
"I'm sorry…"
Dedigivolving, Motimon watched as the blonde stopped, looking towards him…
"Lizzy…"
Dedigivolving once more, Pabumon whimpered, looking up at his partner with watery eyes…
"Pabu-Pabu…"
"Pabu…mon…"
That was Lizzy, shaky and concerned, but it was weak, barely a soft breath.
It was squashed almost instantly.
"What's the matter with you?! I told you not to bother me when I'm meditating!!"
His tears floated from his cheeks, like reflective windows to another world, and Lizzy paused, mesmerized by them…
Some splashed against her skin, wet and cool, as others seemed to show…
Memories…
"Have you forgotten who I am already, Lizzy? Have you forgotten who YOU are?"
The memories seemed like another life, another place and time, with laughing and friends and excitement…
Just her and Tentomon, fighting Andromon and Liztech, fighting Devimon and Bloodtongue, fighting Etemon and Babyface…
Just her and Tentomon, talking and laughing, taking care of each other…
The tears, the joy, the excitement, the revelations, the discoveries, the bond…
Voices came in and out of hearing, Tentomon's so clear in her mind that it jump-started her heart…
"Pabumon…"
"TRY to remember…TRY…"
Everything was blending together, growing stronger and louder, and it was pounding at the back of her eyes…
The tears burst like bubbles, and the memories rushed into her mind in a rush, leaving the blonde dazed.
Eyes alit once more, though not quite the same, Lizzy regained her bearings and spotted her partner.
"Pabumon? Oh, Pabumon!"
Rushing forward, she scooped up the Fresh level Digimon, cradling him in her arms protectively.
"I'm so sorry! I didn't want to hurt you!"
"Pabu…"
Shouts rang through the hollowness of space, and Lizzy winced as the four voices clashed in the air.
As the fight grew in volume, a door appeared from the darkness, causing the blonde to move towards it tentatively…
Pabumon floated beside her shoulder as the teen peeked through the window, seeing Vademon and Swindle fighting with another Digimon and his partner.
"He has the crest I threw away…But…"
Lizzy's brow furrowed as she tried to focus…
"Since I don't have my inquisitive heart, I don't really understand…"
Turning to face her Digimon, she bit her lip.
"But I think I've been tricked, Pabumon…We've got to get back my crest and my heart."
"Pabu-Pabu!"
Crouching beneath the window, she held a finger to her lips before easing the door open silently.
It seemed the 'battle' had moved to an unseen section of the strange store, and she listened warily to the voices.
Pabumon rushed across the wooden floor, and Lizzy reached out to stop him.
"Pabumon!" She whispered as loud as she dared.
There were sudden shouts and crashes, and then Pabumon was racing back towards her, crest in mouth.
"PABUMON, OVER HERE!"
Catching him at the threshold, violet eyes widened to see four forms charging towards them…
"AH!"
Darting back into the infinite space at her back, Lizzy hid beside the doorway as their pursuers shot past.
Taking the opportunity presented, the blonde zipped back inside, closing the door before they could be followed.
Locking the bolt, the fifteen year old released a breath before looking down at Pabumon.
"We might not have much time…We have to find my heart."
The Fresh-level Digimon nodded, jumping to the ground and leading the way around the shelves.
"At least I have my crest back…" Lizzy muttered, putting it around her neck along with the charm already there.
"Pabu! Pabu-Pabu!"
"I'm coming, Pabumon!"
Jogging, she skidded around a corner before finding the familiar purple sac.
"My inquisitive heart!"
Smiling, she lifted it up carefully, studying it carefully.
"Staying ignorant just isn't me…I never should've given this up. Wanting to know everything is part of who I am, right?"
"Pabu!"
"So…I suppose I have to wish for it back…"
Gently pressing her forehead against it, Lizzy released a soft breath…
"I want to know…I want to know!"
It gave off a sheen, levitating off her palms and phasing back into her chest, leaving her feeling full.
Relief flooded her moments before their attackers caught up with them…
Violet eyes widened, and she grabbed Pabumon before running down the aisle, aiming back for the pocket universe.
"Alien Ray!"
Once floor was gone from beneath her sneakers, Lizzy almost flipped through open space…
"Pabumon, hurry!"
…
"Pabumon, Digivolve to…MOTIMON!!"
"You're Motimon again!"
"Alien Ray!"
Crying out, she barely evaded the assault as Swindle held up a kami, chain swinging from the end.
"Slicing Winds!"
"MOTIMON!"
…
"Motimon, Digivolve to…TENTOMON!!"
"Tento, we've got to get out of here!"
Avoiding a slash of power from Swindle's kami, Lizzy winced as it cut her arm harshly.
"Lizzy!"
Tentomon took hold of her arm, taking a shot in the shell…
Her charm shone brightly as she embraced him…
"Ferret!"
The light engulfed both of them, causing their enemies to back away in pain...
"Elizabeth, Spirit Evolve into…TECHIE!"
"Tentomon, Digivolve to…KABUTERIMON!!"
Rushing towards them with Kabuterimon at her back, Techie felt almost invincible.
Nothing could stop them like this, with their enemies fleeing before them…
"Unidentified Flying Kiss!"
"Slicing Winds!"
Yelping in pain as the energy 'blades' sliced into her stomach and shoulders, the dull, foreign pain from Kabuterimon struck her…
'We can't stop…'
Finding some strength, Techie tried to rush forward once more, fist pulled back…
Kabuterimon straightened himself, flying towards his target…
Both were knocked back down by the stronger Vademon and Swindle, floating through the darkness…
Violet eyes fluttered open, cuts pulling as Techie reached out for her partner…
"K-Kabuterimon…"
Flinching as blood began to hover around her, the ferret-girl clenched her fist…
"We can do this, Kabuterimon…"
Her crest began to shine…
"I KNOW we can…"
Blinding lavender light…
"Kabuterimon, Digivolve to…MEGAKABUTERIMON!!"
A column of purple electricity shot up, surrounding the girl…
"Transformation of Knowledge into…"
Bursting from the transformation, she spun a naginata expertly, jacket showing her crest...
"Knowledgeable Techie!"
"Let's get them, Techie!"
"Right!"
Rushing forward, both managed to get through the oncoming attacks, Slicing Winds being knocked off-course and the comets being smashed.
"Don't think you can defeat us so easily!"
"Unidentified Flying Kiss!"
"Whirling Blades!"
For a moment, as the many kami raced for Knowledgeable Techie and a planet threatened to crush Megakabuterimon…
She felt strong.
'We can do it, Megakabuterimon!'
'They won't stop us!'
Just before impact…
"Horn Buster!"
"Healing Knowledge!"
The bursts of energy seemed to shake the very foundations of the pocket dimension, white mixing with lavender to swirl before her eyes…
"Hold on, Techie!"
Reaching out, the Spirit Evolution grabbed hold of her partner's horn as he flew up out of the collapsing universe…
Bursting through the ground in a column of light, they hit the ground hard.
The transformation fell away like gold dust, leaving Lizzy exhausted, as her partner Dedigivolved back to Motimon.
"Lizzy?"
Groaning in pain, she shifted, eyes fluttering open tiredly.
"Motimon? Are you okay?"
"I should be asking YOU that."
Smiling weakly, Lizzy put a hand on his head before sitting up, rolling her shoulders.
"Well, we're both fine…But let's never do that again…"
"Agreed…"
Smiling, she lifted up the tired Digimon, kissing his forehead.
"Thank you, Motimon…"
"Aw…"
"LIZZY!"
Both looked up, surprised to see Meg and TJ running towards them, Tsunomon and Patamon at their heels.
"Meg? TJ?"
"We were worried about you."
"Are you two alright?"
"We're alright…"
Smiling shyly, Lizzy managed to stand, Motimon in the crook of one arm.
"You two have been okay, right?"
"Now we are."
"We came to find you! Tonya came back, and we're trying to find everyone!"
A smile lit up Lizzy's face.
"Tonya's back?"
TJ nodded excitedly, hugging Patamon to her chest.
"Hello, kids. It's been a while."
The small group looked up in surprise, seeing a hologram of Gennai up against the sky.
"Gennai!"
"The connection between the worlds is still damaged. You'll have to stay longer."
Meg ground her teeth.
"And you couldn't have told us this SOONER?"
"I've collected some information on the Digital World you should be able to use. Take a look at the Digimon file. It will tell you all you need to know."
As Gennai disappeared, Meg sighed, looking towards Lizzy.
"I suppose he meant your laptop."
Nodding, the blonde sat down Indian-style, Motimon in her lap as she opened the small computer.
Turning it on, she easily found the Digimon file, double-clicking to open it and smiling as the Digimon Analyzer came up.
"I think this is supposed to tell us about Digimon and their Spirit Evolutions…"
Typing in a name, she proudly showed the picture to her friends.
"My favorite. Megakabuterimon."
"AW…I'm not so great…"
"You are."
Meg smiled softly, seeing them still the same, and looked towards the chosen mountain.
"We've got to meet up with the others at the base of that mountain."
"Alright…"
Standing, Lizzy closed the laptop and put it away before following the sister.
Motimon in her arms, she smiled as he began to doze in her arms, lulled by her steady heartbeat…
'I'll never forget you, Motimon…Not again…'
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jokester and Demidevimon's reports were showing that they were incompetent, unable to do a simple job.
Midnight lounged on his favorite chair, playing with the bell on an orange lace choker.
He could almost see it around her neck already…
'Perhaps Shogungekomon won't be so rough on her…I don't want him to mess up her pretty face…'