"FOOD…I need FOOD…"
"PIZZA…HAMBURGERS…"
Staring at Jenny and Mikey as they crawled on the floor of the Battle Shell, Meg rubbed her temple.
"Great. There's another one."
"I coul' say the same thin'."
"We don't have the time to complain."
Tonya quirked an eyebrow as Jenny pulled on her arm.
"Jenny seems able to, but we need to start looking."
"But if we run into trouble again, we won't be able to evolve without eating." Steph pointed out.
"I'm hungry, too…" Motimon admitted.
"Meggie, Pat's hungry too…" TJ voiced.
"Ya could come down ta the lair an' eat there."
"Sure! Is it like the batcave?" TJ wondered.
"It's BETTER than the batcave!" Mikey replied.
"We'll see about that." Jenny challenged.
"Super-computer?"
"Yup."
"Secret location?"
"Definitely."
"Cool car?"
Mikey gestured to the Battle Shell…
"Right…Flying machine?"
"Copter."
"Tunneling machine?"
"Tunneler."
"Sidekick?"
"Raph."
SMACK!!!
"OW!"
"Shell-fer-brains."
"Ours is Meg."
SMACK!!!
"OW…"
"Don't say thing you'll regret."
"Where's the fun in that?"
"…"
"I say we go!" Mel interrupted hurriedly, smile slightly strained.
"We need some rest anyway, right?"
"We'll help you search for the eighth child as well, once Master Splinter knows what's going on." Leo assured.
Don slid into the front seat, and started driving the Battle Shell towards their above-ground warehouse.
The Digimon huddled together on the floor, already dozing, and Meg stretched out her back.
Not noticing that this action brought a certain turtle's attention to her frame, she blinked tiredly as TJ nestled against her side.
Jenny lay down in one of the seats, grumbling as Gomamon nuzzled her cheek.
Weary-eyed and over-stimulated, Mel curled up around Palmon for some rest.
Steph yawned, rubbing her eyes and leaning against Mikey as her partner's doze leeched into her.
Seeming more interested in checking out the equipment built into the Battle Shell, Lizzy walked around in a familiar attempt to stay awake.
Tonya was too hyped up on worry to even think of trying to sleep, and fiddled with her Digivice.
She felt like she'd failed, leaving her friends the way she had, and she wasn't about to let the eighth child get hurt as well…
"Tonya?"
"Come on, Tonya! Wake up!"
Blinking sleep out of her eyes, the redhead almost jumped when she realized Koromon was in her face.
'Guess I went to sleep after all…'
"Are you feeling alright?" Leo worried.
Of all the girls, she'd been the deepest sleeper, and that might mean she was sick.
"I'm alright…Just tired…"
"Are you sure?" Koromon wondered.
"Don't be such a worrywart."
Sitting up to find that the Battle Shell was empty, she stretched her neck before following the blue-masked turtle out.
The warehouse was dark around them, and the others were already crowding into the strange elevator.
Stuffing themselves inside, the glowing doors closed before the stone elevator began to descend.
It opened to show a large, brick-walled area, spacious despite it being underground.
Practically falling out of the little room, Jenny immediately jumped towards the wall of TV screens and video games.
"Xbox! I've missed you so!"
"Jenny, watch out-!"
BAM!!!
CRASH!!!
"…I'm okay!"
Holding a thumbs-up into the air from her contorted position on the floor, even Gomamon shook his head at her antics.
A door opened, and two forms appeared…
"It seems my sons have met some new allies, Ancient One."
"Yes, it seems that I was almost too late."
Blinking curiously at the elderly, robed humanoid rat and his pudgy friend, Mel tilted her head curiously.
"Um…Hi?"
"Ah, you must be the Digidestined that bears the Crest of Sincerity."
The brunette nodded, touching the crest around her neck…
"How'd you know?"
"We know much from our meditation." The elderly rat explained.
"This is our father, Master Splinter, and the Ancient One." Leo introduced.
"It's nice to meet you."
Steph smiled warmly, Yokomon cradled in her arms.
"W-We didn't mean to intrude…" Lizzy started, Motimon trying to soothe her nerves.
"It's no trouble, young one."
"You must be the Digidestined of Knowledge."
Nodding shyly, she almost slid behind Meg, looking for shelter.
"So…You only know us by our crest?" Tonya wondered.
"And your Spirit Animal."
The Ancient One seemed to waddle forward, and Koromon looked down curiously from his perch on the redhead's shoulder.
No one moved…
And then he put a hand on her chest.
Silence as shock froze everyone's system, and her fist clenched, eye twitching…
"PERV!!!"
BAM!!!
CRASH!!!
SNAP!!!
Leo blinked in amazement as her punch sent the Ancient One flying into a table, and the old man laughed.
"Ah! The fierce spirit of a tiger! You must be the Digidestined of Courage!"
Mikey blinked from behind his red-masked brother as Meg restrained her righteously indignant friend…
"Tonya scares me…"
"Then don't touch 'er boobs, shell-fer-brains."
"You all must be tired." Master Splinter stated, diffusing the situation.
"I'll make some tea while you make yourselves at home. Ancient One?"
"Coming!"
…
FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAART!!!
"TEAR GAS! IT BURNS! WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE!"
As Jenny flailed on the floor with Gomamon, everyone else covered their noses and the noses of their armless partners.
"EW!" TJ whined.
"Having a sensitive nose can be rather annoying." Meg agreed, Tsunomon trying to sneeze the smell away from under her arm.
"Don't worry, the ventilation system will take care of it." Don assured.
As the smell leaked out of the room, drowsiness fell over the group.
Only Lizzy and Don could shake off the shadowy tendrils as the others fell onto the couch and chairs in singles or pairs.
The only awake pair sat in silence as the others slumbered…
"You know, I've been wondering…about the Digimon, I mean…How do they bond? What's it like?"
Lizzy tilted her head in thought, looking down at the slumbering Motimon.
"I don't really know…It's like never being alone, with someone that always understands you…"
Blinking as she realized that she'd spoken, the blonde flushed.
"B-But it might be different for the others…"
Don, not wanting her to shut down now that he'd seen that look in her eyes, prodded gently.
"What happens when you evolve?"
"Th-The bond goes deeper…W-We share feelings, pain…Th-Thoughts…"
"Really?"
Moving closer, curiosity burned in his eyes.
"What do you evolve into?"
"W-Well…"
Pulling out her laptop, Lizzy turned on the Digimon Analyzer and turned it so he could see the screen.
"T-Techie and Kabuterimon."
Studying the bug Digimon and his ferret partner, he found it a bit hard to compare little Motimon with this giant six-winged Kabuterimon.
"What about the others?"
"H-Here…"
Clicking to another screen, she revealed another pair.
"T-Tawny and Greymon."
Don had to admit, the Digimon did look familiar…
One by one, Lizzy showed their evolved forms, and was soon relaxed.
With the comfort came ease, and she was soon explaining her theories about the Digital World.
It was a bit awkward for her, having someone understand her more complicated wording…
Still, the feeling made her tingle happily, and their conversation went undisturbed even when tea was made.
An hour or so after that, when Master Splinter and the Ancient One went to meditate, the group began to stir.
Meg, who had been lying on the couch, began to awaken first.
Without opening her eyes, she felt warm arms over her side, and the comforting weight set her at ease.
She forgot about the trip to the Digital World, about Tsunomon, about her destiny, and imagined she was a child again, asleep in her father's arms…
Of course, opening her eyes, Meg found that her wishful thinking was once again based on fantasy.
Though, she had to admit, the normal uncomfortable feeling didn't fill her chest at the close proximity of the red-masked turtle.
In fact, it was rather nice…
Panic, at the serious thought that she was willing to trust a piece of herself to another, and Meg shoved Raph off the couch as she shot up into a sitting position.
Crashing onto the floor shell-first tended to wake up cranky turtles…
"What the shell was that fer?!" Raph demanded, glaring up at the sole inhabitant of the couch.
He faltered, confused, when he noticed her cheeks were red…
'Is she…BLUSHING?'
Even if he hadn't known Meg very long, Raph could tell she wasn't the kind to get easily embarrassed.
"What? Too much turtle for ya?" He teased, smirking.
"You wish." Meg retorted.
"What's wron', then? Too hot for ya?"
"Sorry that I don't like being drooled on." She replied confidently, wiping something off her shoulder.
"Ya didn't min' while we were sleepin'."
"You just couldn't let me go." Meg challenged, a slight smirk taking place of the blush on her face.
As they mock-bickered, Steph was roused from sleep as the warm weight at her back shifted.
Mumbling something about 'five more minutes', she shuddered as a tired chuckle echoed in her ear.
"I think it's time to wake up, babe."
Yokomon nudged her partner's chin, and the brunette sighed.
"Alright, alright…I'm up…"
Koromon began jumping on Tonya's back, but she just groaned, hiding her face in the warmth beneath her.
A steady pulse lulled her, but its sudden increase in pace roused the teen.
Blinking, all she saw was forest green skin and a pounding pulse before looking up and catching dark brown eyes.
Now completely aware of their close proximity, Tonya blushed darker than her hair before starting to pull away.
"Sorry, I didn't-."
Her knees slipped off the recliner, and she crashed down onto Jenny.
"OW…I thought cats always landed on their feet…"
"Shut up…"
Mel sat up, rubbing sleep away with a yawn, as Palmon drooped on her shoulder.
Patamon perked up, flapping his wings tiredly, as TJ levered herself upward.
"Is it time to wake up now?"
Motimon yawned, stretching his little arms before looking up with sleep-fogged eyes.
"Is it time to eat?"
"Not yet, Motimon…"
"MAN, I slept good…The waking up part could have gone better, thought…"
Death glare.
"…Never mind."
"Mel, could you carry me?"
"Sure, Pal…"
"We should head home soon…Or our parents will get worried…" TJ reminded.
Meg nodded slightly in agreement, Tsunomon jumping into her arms.
"But if we go home the same day we left to the cabin, our parents will get suspicious." Steph reasoned.
"Especially if it's without my grandma…" Tonya agreed.
"What are you guys gonna do?" Mikey wondered, now upside-down in his seat.
"We'd let you stay here, but there isn't enough space." Leo stating, regaining his composure.
"…I know where we can stay!"
Jenny's sudden outburst surprised TJ and Patamon, caused Mel and Palmon to fall over, and Lizzy to hide behind Don with a shocked jump.
"We can go to my place!"
"…You live with your grandparents and uncle." Meg pointed out.
"Not THAT place, silly puppy!"
Glare.
"The OTHER one!"
Incomprehension, the realization, crossed Tonya's face…
"Oh RIGHT! I remember!"
"You mean that house by the river your parents left you?" Steph questioned.
"Yup! It's perfect! No one ever goes there, even though it's full of clothes and food!"
Gomamon perked up immediately.
"What are we waiting for? Let's go!"
"The food can wait."
"But MEL…"
Rumble…
Grumble…
"…Then again…"
"I bet there's ice cream and pizza!" TJ exclaimed.
Mikey shot up faster than a jet going supersonic.
"Pizza?"
A thoughtful look scrunched up his nose before the orange-masked turtle grinned.
"Well, we can't let you girls go alone! I'll be your escort!"
"We don't need you to hold our hands." Meg replied.
"Better us watchin' yer back than a Purple Dragon."
"And we'll feel better knowing that you're all staying somewhere safe." Don added.
"We're involved now, whether we were meant to or not. It's our duty to help as much as we can."
"I'm a big girl, Leo. I can handle it." Tonya assured, smiling.
Something about that look almost swayed him, but the katana-wielding ninja steeled himself.
"We're still coming."
"But Leo-."
The redhead paused, almost shivering, as he took hold of her hand, electricity on her skin and fire in her veins.
"For me?"
Trying to hide the rush of blood to her face, Tonya looked down at Koromon…
"Alright, alright…I mean, what harm could it do?"
"It should be close enough to walk…" Lizzy calculated.
"Yay, field trip!"
"It's still light out-." Leo protested.
"If you cover up enough, it shouldn't be a problem." Meg reasoned.
As the youngest turtle rushed to get all the disguises, the others started migrating towards the stone elevator.
Once Mikey returned, the ninja shrugged on the clothes as they all stepped into the enclosed space.
In the warehouse/garage, the girls explored a bit as they waited…
Stopping beside a red motorcycle, Meg ran a hand over the sleek metal as Tsunomon stared at the strange contraption before him.
"What's this, Meggie?"
"It's called a motorcycle."
"Shellcycle."
Turning to Raph and seeing him struggle slightly with the buttons of a red sweater underneath a black jacket, she smiled slightly.
"I'm guessing it's yours, then."
Taking the task away from him, the blue-eyed teen didn't notice he was staring at her.
"Yeah…Wanna ride?"
Pausing, she looked up a moment before slipping the last button closed.
"…Maybe later."
"Come on, it's time to go." Tonya urged.
Heading out of the warehouse, Jenny led the way to the streets, so she could get her bearings and find the bridge.
The bustling sidewalks seemed to sweep them up, but the group managed to stay close.
Gomamon, atop his partner's head, managed to aim them towards the large structure he'd been told was a bridge.
It took ten LONG minutes to get to the opening of the damn bridge, and Mikey was going stir-crazy from being told to shut up.
Meg paused, holding an arm out to stop the group from proceeding.
Blue eyes narrowed, and Tonya's brow furrowed in concern as Koromon jumped onto her shoulder.
"Meg?"
"It's empty."
Looking around, Mel noticed that the street and bridge were, in fact, empty…
"…This can't be good…"
Everyone spun around when Lizzy yelped in fright, seeing Missy holding a ninjato to the blonde's neck.
Unfortunately, the bleach-blonde cheerleader was also wearing a familiar black ninja uniform…
"Let her go." Meg ordered, pupils threatening to slim dangerously.
"Since when do I listen to a slut?"
A snarl of outrage, and Meg lunged, only Leo's hold keeping her from pouncing.
"Besides, I've been trying to undermine this Digidestined for a while…I'm a little upset that you've been undoing all my work."
"How'd you know we were the Digidestined?" Steph demanded.
"I've always known. That's my job."
She smirked cruelly, the sharp blade almost pressing against Lizzy's jugular…
"After all, it's my mission to make sure her crest never glows. And the little loser made it all too easy."
Lizzy closed her eyes, unable to block out the jibe at her already-fragile ego.
"I knew you'd end up meeting the turtles. Freaks attract freaks."
Motimon, feeling the searing pain through their bond at the direct insult, was BEYOND pissed.
"You leave her alone, you big bully!"
Missy glanced down at the little Digimon as he puffed up.
"Little pest…"
"Bubble Blow!"
Surprised at the sudden assault on her face, the cheerleader released Lizzy in favor of kicking her partner.
Falling to her knees, the blonde winced at the pain through their bond…
"Motimon!"
Don jumped forward to defend the pair, worried that they'd be hurt even more severely…
"Don't get in my way, turtle!"
The butt of her blade smashed into his shoulder, and violet eyes widened as he stumbled back.
'Donnie!'
Lizzy wasn't sure what it was, but something made her chest swell with emotion, and she was on her feet in an instant.
"Now, you little-."
SMACK!!!
Everyone was stunned to see the normally reserved blonde smack someone straight across the face…
"I'm not going to just stand here and let you hurt my friends."
Voice staying level and firm, Lizzy's almost blazing amethyst eyes almost frightened Missy.
"If I have to fight you, I will."
Something shrieked, and the group realized it was Missy.
"Who do you think I am?! You don't frighten me, you little bitch!!"
Lizzy didn't flinch, gaze unwavering and body rigid.
"You don't frighten me because you can't hurt me."
An evil smirk, and slight concern flashed across the blonde's bright eyes…
"Oh really?"
Jenny went rigid, almost KNOWING what was coming…
"NO!"
Missy kicked the younger girl in the stomach, knocking the wind from Lizzy's lungs…
Then her feet left the ground.
Eyes widening as she realized the river was below her and the ground before her, she was frozen in fear…
"LIZZY!"
Don jumped, trying to catch her before she fell too far, and was pulled over as well.
"DONNIE!"
Covering Lizzy's smaller form instinctively to protect her from harm, both started to plummet towards the river…
"MOTIMON!"
The Digivice on her waist began to shine…
"Motimon, Digivolve to…TENTOMON!!"
The bug Digimon flew down, and Lizzy caught his ankle to halt their descent.
Wings buzzing frantically, Tentomon tried to go upward and lift them back onto land.
Meanwhile, the others turned to Missy with merciless intent.
"You BITCH!" Tonya raged.
"Now, who's calling the kettle black?"
The blonde was punched straight in the face, nose bursting in an explosion of blood, as Leo took hold of the redhead's waist.
"You asked for it…"
With a snap of her fingers, Missy summoned a giant creature to rise from the river.
"It's Gesomon!" Palmon informed.
"And Jaws!"
"Tentomon can't lift them up alone!" Patamon shouted.
"You guys take care of her!"
Jenny turned, running towards the river, charm glowing as Gomamon jumped over the edge…
"Dolphin!"
The light blinded Jaws, the muscle-bound needle-toothed Spirit Evolution below…
"Jennifer, Spirit Evolve into…TRICKSTER!"
"Gomamon, Digivolve to…IKKAKUMON!!"
The Digimon landed in the water first, a perfect surface for Tentomon to lower his load, as Trickster slammed straight into Jaws.
Tail covering her legs in a flash, the dolphin-girl zoomed around the shark-man with ease.
"Get onto the bridge!" Ikkakumon advised, stopping Gesomon's hand with his horn.
"Got it!"
Don lifted a shell-shocked Lizzy up into a bridal-hold, and jumped up the steep slope beside the river, clinging onto a pipe opening.
Trickster broke the surface in a graceful arc, her tail smacking into Jaws' mouth as it tried to close on her.
Below the water, she flipped to face him, and tackled the surprised Spirit Evolution in the chest.
He was left gasping as she returned to the surface for air, 'mermaid' tail swishing.
"You're MINE, mammal!"
Jaws' teeth clamped down on her shoulder, and the blonde flailed before punching him in the nose.
Releasing her with a howl of pain, her tail smashed into his face harshly.
"Haven't you ever watched Animal Planet? The dolphin ALWAYS wins!"
"Harpoon Torpedo!"
Her punch struck the same moment as her partner's explosives, and the dust covered Gesomon and Jaws' destruction.
Climbing up onto Ikkakumon's back, Trickster peeked up to see the others as Don and Lizzy, along with Tentomon, got on as well.
"Yo! How's it going up there?"
"We lost her." Meg replied.
"Well, jump on! We'll take everybody the rest of the way."
"That's comforting."
"HEY…"
Still, the group climbed down, and they clung to Ikkakumon's fur as he swam across the wide river.
Trickster followed beside them in the water, tail swaying lazily.
"What are you? A mermaid?" Mikey teased.
"You wish."
Jenny smiled cheekily, splashing up into the turtle's face.
"My Spirit Animal is the dolphin, doofus."
"I'm just glad we're almost there…" Mel admitted.
Everyone was exhausted, and a house came into view now that the river was crossed.
Once Ikkakumon was unloaded and the group jumped the fence as the transformations fell away, the turtles stared up at the house.
It was three stories, bright gold with dark red trim, and an Olympic-sized pool.
The sliding glass door revealed a lavishly-furnished home, with a ninety-inch plasma screen and a high-tech kitchen first thing.
On the other end was a library, and beyond that the front hall.
To the left was another hallway, leading to dark-wood stairs, a couple guest rooms, and carpeted floor.
As everyone split up, Don went to the second floor, finding a computer room and three more guest rooms, along with a fully-equipped bathroom.
The third would hold two more, and another bathroom with storage units.
Two linen closets and half-bathrooms sprinkled the floors, and everything looked strangely sleek and modern.
Once all eleven had regrouped in the 'family room', they stared at Jenny.
"This is the EXTRA house?"
"My parents were brain surgeons." The blonde explained with a shrug.
"It's getting dark out…You guys should head home." Steph stated.
"We'll be back tomorrow." Leo promised.
"See you then, babe."
"Bye, Mikey."
Once the turtles had slipped outside into the shadows of sundown, Tonya's pocket began to vibrate…
Finding her phone, which hadn't worked in the Digital World and been forgotten, the redhead was confused.
"Grandma?"
Flipping it open, the phone went to her ear.
"Hello? …Hi, Granny. I need to explain-."
Her brow furrowed in confusion…
"…Alright…No, I understand…I'll see you then…"
Closing it with a snap, dazed gold eyes turned to the group.
"Tonya?" TJ worried.
"That was Granny…She KNEW."
Meg's eyes widened.
"What?"
"She knew…And she's coming back tomorrow evening to explain…"
Dropping onto the couch, the redhead leaned back in a slouch…
"What's been going ON around here?"