Chapter 5: In Flies Aquilamon

"Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble." The three sisters chanted, as they threw various items into their boiling cauldron at the top, of Infinitum Island's central mountain, where they were busy boiling a potion over a roaring fire.

"Fillet of a fenny Sandiramon, In the cauldron boil and bake; eye of a newt, toe of a Geckomon, wool of a Vilemon, and tongue of a Gaomon-and-and-umm how does the line go?" The thin Witchmon wondered as she looked to her plumper and healthier sisters as she scratched at her head.

"Oh, you went and messed it all up, everyone knows that it's; adder's fork blind-worm's sting, Lizard's leg and owlet's wing, For a charm of powerful trouble, Like a hell-broth boil and bubble. Geeze can't you do anything right?" The short and plump Witchmon asked furiously.

"I know that, you big meanie!" The thinner one screamed shrilly, as she scowled at her smarter sister.

"Dignity sisters, dignity." The leader of the three muttered, as she rubbed at her brow with finger and thumb, irritated by their squabbling and how the whole of their little act was thrown off. "Ah if it isn't BlackGatomon, come and tell us, I cannot wait to hear of how Agunimon has destroyed the very children he has sworn to help."

"Uh yeah, I wouldn't exactly hold my breath witchy, as you see you kinda've screwed up; you see he uh, failed and now the kids are on the way to the mini-isle of Suzaku Isle, where they're going to stop over for some food."

Digimon Analyzer/Plump Witchmon, "BlackGatomon, if you weren't so cunning and your Lightning Paw so ferocious, we'd have already eaten or roasted you."

"What? We shan't allow such a thing to happen, those brats must be stopped!" The leader of the three, of moderate height between the three declared calmly and firmly.

Digimon Analyzer/BlackGatomon, "Ugh, why did I ever agree to become the familiar and right-hand man of these Brady Bunch wannabes, these women are battier than Vilemon and they know batty. If you're smart you'll make yourself invaluable to them, or just avoid them entirely."

"What's to be done about those worthless brats?" BlackGatomon asked curiously.

"Let me take care of them, with our Dark Rings, I'll see an end to them, all I need is the chest of a Monzaemon with my own touches, and those Digi-brats will rush to their deaths, willingly." Declared the shortest of the three passionately, as the youngest and wisest sister nodded her head.

"Very good, my sister."

"Also, um could you three see about tipping the BlackGomamon I got the info from, I may have promised him quite the tip for the info," BlackGatomon explained, with a shrug, as the eldest and younger Witchmon sisters nodded their heads, whilst the middle sister departed on a broomstick for the location of where the Digidestined were.


"Row faster will you, I'd like to be there before noon," Sana scolded her brother and Kira, who strained, huffed and panted as they fought against some of the waves, with all that they had.

"Sh-shut up, m-man this is harder than it looks," Kira complained as he stretched his thirteen years old arms as tirelessly as he possibly could, with Sakura, Elecmon, Keramon, Dorumon and Michiru straining, and working hard to assist with the rowing as well.

"Wow, this is so exhausting, I truly can't row anymore or my wings will fall off, oh agoonnyyyy!" Biyomon mocked-whined as he proceeded to giggle with his partner being the one to give him a withering look.

"H-hey, Sana could you please tell B-Biyomon to pipe down, this is hard enough as it is," Sakura groaned harshly not wanting to put Sana on the spot out of a soft spot for kids, but this was really starting to get on her nerves.

"Agreed, I am beyond annoyed at the moment," Michiru added his voice to those thoroughly annoyed by the bird digimon who shrugged in response to their aggravation.

"How am I supposed to control him? He's impossible, on the best of days, can you imagine on the worsts, like this one? Seriously, you do it," Sana retorted evenly having long since given up on managing her partner's prankful nature, and trouble-seeking personality.

"You could gag him," Itachi pointed out reasonably, earning him an aghast look from the girl and the bird.

"That was a bad joke, even for you," She replied not seeing the truth of what he was thinking.

"Who says, I was joking?" the dark-haired boy said with no small amount of irritation in his voice, "I for one am getting quite tired of him trying, to splash me."

"You and me both," Dorumon stated with a sigh of disappointment, wondering where he had gone wrong in Biyomon's upbringing, it had to be some external force's fault, because he had done everything right according to one of the local Motimon.

'I'm going to strangle that bird-brain soon, if he keeps this up,' Dracomon of all people was busy thinking, a patient and fair digimon, the miniature dragon was believed by many to be as lazy or as patient as Elecmon. At times this was true, but he was also the one who enjoyed flamboyance, treasures and lost poems and artefacts, the only thing is Biyomon's pranks had escalated in the past little while, since they had entered the castle.
Which was why, he was considering roasting him, in order to put him out of the group's collective misery.

"I'm getting sea-sick," Kotemon grumbled not liking the way the boat rocked every time they advanced, with Sakura pausing in her rowing a little to rub, his back sympathetically.

"There, there Kotemon, it'll be over soon," Sakura said as reassuringly as possible, hoping to cheer him up a little, as he shot her a grateful look.

"Thanks, Sakura." He responded rubbing his gut as though it physically wounded him.

"Don't stop rowing, the sooner we get out of this, the better," Kira scolded her, as he rowed with all he had.

"Uh, right," She stuttered before she turned her head to Kaitou who was sitting next to Itachi, directly behind her. "Could one of you come over, and rub Kotemon's back to make him feel better? I don't think he's taking this trip very well."

"I'll do it," Kaitou volunteered shooting up to walk over, only for the boat to sway some more.

"Crawl forward you idiot, don't walk!" Itachi shouted furiously, causing the other boy to turn a bright scarlet.

"Whoops."

"Next time, crawl through the boat, here I'll do it geeze," Itachi grunted as he did just that to Kaitou's embarrassment and frustration.

"I'm not an idiot!" He shouted back.

"Then quit acting like it." Was the calm rebuttal as Itachi reached the lizard and began to gently but firmly rub his back, probably better than how Kaitou would have been able to, causing a bit of green-eyed impatience in him.

"You don't have to act like a know-it-all, I was just trying to help," Kaitou complained furiously.

"Boys, quit acting up, you're not helping at all," Dorumon scolded with a shake of his head, his temple throbbing from the loudness of their argument.

"True, they both might be annoying, but Itachi should take responsibility for once, and apologize," Kira grunted from between his teeth as he once again, as he sided against the dark boy who cast him a glower that would have shamed the infamous Bat-glare of the west.

"Thanks," Kaitou murmured a little, grateful for some assistance.

"Kaitou!" Dorumon hissed scandalized by his spoiled behaviour.

"Besides, it isn't as though you, yourself are all that responsible," Keramon pointed out truthfully as he helped row far more competently than the pretty-boy who shot him a glare now.

"What'd you say? How am I irresponsible?" Kira asked.

"Do you want the list chronologically or alphabetically?" Sana moaned back, as she rubbed her temple irritably, wishing they'd all go away, maybe some fish could come up and eat them all while she closed her eyes.

"Nice one!" Biyomon cheered her partner not realizing that she had just dug herself a bigger hole.

"BIYOMON!" Just about everyone screamed impatiently, with the bird digimon wincing a little only to defend himself.

"Just saying."

"Could you pipe down on the jokes, for two minutes?" Elecmon asked irritably, as he glanced up from where he had been napping at the front of the boat, where he'd laid down to rest for a swift nap rather than helping with the rowing.

"I think we're about to arrive," Michiru said to reassure Kotemon, in the hopes of comforting him just as several of the others had attempted to, over the whole of the four-hour trip.

"Least we're not flying," Dracomon stated as he thanked the heavens with his eyes, pleased by this little fact and detail as he had grown to detest flying on someone else, as he preferred flight based on his own wings.

Just as they arrived on land, they began to notice that the skies were turning devilish as though it had decided to turn upon them also. Evidently fortune didn't favour them, not that it surprised them all that much, as they hurriedly set foot once more on land, anchored the boat on Keramon and Elecmon's orders, doing so carefully over the course of several minutes.

"What do we do now?" Dracomon wondered as Kotemon fell onto his back, staring at the heavens in utmost gratitude for the feeling of land beneath his back.

"I say we explore this island, we may as well try to find shelter to wait out the coming storm," Kira suggested as he looked up at the skies unhappily, ill-impressed by the thought of having to endure a typhoon without a building to stay in.

"Tell me about it," Michiru agreed, the only one to object was Sakura.

"What? But what if we encounter danger? We should at least stay here where we know it's safe." She argued only for Sana to snort.

"Yeah, it isn't as though we've met danger everywhere where we go," The younger girl debated only to add coldly, "If you want to stay useless than you could stay here, the rest of us are going to explore the island."

"Sana! Apologize at once," Michiru ordered not completely aware of how her words stung Sakura, but he knew all too well that such words could have an ill-effect upon the group, so logically it was best to avoid such brutal truths as much as possible.

"But I'm right!"

"Even so, make the appearance of contriteness at least."

"Michiru!" Sakura hissed furious, as much so as Dorumon who shook his head at the children's arguments.

"What? I told her to apologize, so why are you mad?" The young boy wondered clearly not seeing what he had done wrong.

"And he doesn't even see it," Keramon remarked in amusement as he began to leave the beach, with his partner.

"But danger-" Sakura began to say, this time she was interrupted by Kotemon.

"Please, can we put the roaring sea behind us, I don't care what kind of danger lies ahead, only that it isn't involved with water in any type of manner," Kotemon pleaded as he rose to his feet leaning heavily on his wooden bamboo sword with a groan and a glower back at the waters they had just left behind them.

"Fine," Sakura mumbled sulkily she hated being wrong, and hated being impulsive all the more, and she thought of this idea of trudging on as nothing less than that.

The group began to move out with Biyomon firmly ignored by many of the group, who were immensely weary and angry with him for his relentless jokes, and annoyed by Sana's bullheadedness.

"Hey guys, what do you get when you mix the sea with a yellow belly? A Kotemon," Biyomon teased a little more meanly than usual as he got a dirty look from Sakura, and another from Kira.

"Sana tell your digimon to shut up," Kira commanded treating Biyomon, as though he were merely a disobedient pet which was as far from the truth, one could possibly get.

"Like I could, and why don't you do it," Sana snapped feeling irritated by him, as Kira rolled his eyes alongside Sakura and Dracomon.

"Biyomon, you think maybe your jokes are getting worse?" Kaitou asked hoping to maybe use subtlety to correct the irrepressible bird, who shrugged in reply.

"Sorta've but not really, at least I'm not afraid to say what's on my mind like some, wouldn't you say so guys?" Biyomon asked as he shook his head a little at them, "It's better to crack jokes and say the truth than to lie behind false facades, and pretend to be more serious or hard-headed than one already is."

"In your case, emphasis on hard-headed," Sana joked with no kindly spirit in her as she added her irritation to the rising group shared annoyance currently directed at her partner.

"Hey! No need to be that way, Sana you've been pretty combative and something of a Debbie-downer of late," Biyomon corrected her, raising a single scolding finger as though in mockery of Dorumon's overly parental nature.

"Can't you take anything seriously?" Sana asked of him, only for the quick-witted bird to respond with incredible swiftness.

"Can't you take things less seriously?" Biyomon responded, adding after a few minutes of walking, "You know something, I have things I take seriously but life is too short to be spent on silly things like pride or anger, so I say mock it as it comes."

"Whatever," Sana grunted unable to argue against his point, but nor did she want to enable it by agreeing with it, which meant that she was stuck in quite the pickle, thankfully there was a cry further ahead, where the others had walked on, leaving her behind a short distance before.

The two shared a glance, before they rushed forward both equally panicked and frightened for their friends, whom were probably in danger to a Raptormon or something Sana told herself (figuring with some of the names and digimon she had heard and seen, there must be a Digiworld's answer to velociraptors). Bursting past a series of bushes to where the cry had come, she spotted Michiru to her intense relief standing there, with his back to her, Elecmon by his side.

"What is it? Did someone die?" Sana stammered as she feared the worst (unless it was Itachi or Sakura whom she didn't much care for).

"Yeah, I hope nobody got cadavrerific!" Biyomon cried out bursting in upon the scene as suddenly and with as much energy as his partner only to be floored by what he saw. "It's just a big building."

It was a big building, but it was more than that, it was an eighties styled building with a flat roof, four stories and grey and blue paint coating its exterior walls, with a flashing 'ARCADE' sign out on the front, looming over the eight doors that led inside.

"It's paradise," Michiru gasped star-struck and excited. "It must contain all the classics!"

"It's shelter from the rain," Kaitou said in a similar tone, as Sakura and Itachi nodded their heads energetically.

"There must be chairs and benches inside, which have to be better than marshy ground or rain-soaked fields or woods," Kira joined in.

"Gotta be better than catching our deaths to this horrid weather," Dorumon added with a dreamy sigh of relief as the others all nodded their heads in eagerness.

"Maybe there's food like popcorn, or hamburgers," Sana pointed out eagerly.

"They'll be really bad for you and taste like cheap rubber, but I'll take it over raw fish or uncooked nuts and berries," Sakura agreed at once.

"After much deliberation, I say we charge in and see if they have all these things and bathrooms are also contained within," Michiru told the group as he pumped his fist into the air, and began to charge.

"Charge!" Kaitou cheered as he led the way towards the building, with all of them laughing and cheering, all more excited than the last to get inside.

"Wait up!" Itachi called out, lagging a little behind, while the rest of them were faster as they managed to make it to the doors in seconds, the only one willing to wait for him being Keramon.

Inside of the arcade, the group found a series of 80s styled arcade games, with pinball machines, pacman games, dr. Mario, street fighter, mortal kombat as well as many others. All to the left and as far as the eye could see, however to the dismay of them all, there was no food, to be had from any of the machines.

The only one who was in the slightest bit pleased was Michiru, while Itachi along with Kira hoped the bathrooms were in order, only to be repulsed by the smell there. In fact, as Sakura and Sana, investigated the stalls and cupboards for food, they discovered nothing.

Michiru drawn by one of the games just as the rest were regrouping near the entrance in disgust, was just about to slip a single coin into one of the slots, only to be halted by his partner who had until now been busy wondering what that disgusting smell from the entirety of the interior was.

"Numemon!" He shouted as he pulled his partner back, and blasted at the machine he was about to go for, (Mortal Kombat), "Super Thunder Strike!"

"Hey what'd you do-"

"It's a trap!" Elecmon yelled back, as the front of the game collapsed and out surged a disgusting green blob, who stared them down with a glare, his tongue lolling out.

"What is that disgusting thing?!" Kira wondered as he stared in disgust and horror at the offending creature that upset his nostrils, eyes and stomach.

Digimon Analyzer/Elecmon, "Ugh, Numemon the physical and moral trash of Digiworld, think of the most disgusting thing imaginable multiply that by a trillion, then add in their poop and gunk like attacks, and all you'll be left needing is an eternal bath."

"I'll show you eternal bath, fork over the girls and you'll walk away with your life intact," Numemon commanded trying to seem more intimidating than what he truly was.

"Bug Blaster," Keramon barked out as he blasted and deleted the Numemon before it could strive to strike down Michiru, unfortunately for the Digidestined he let out one last scream and the other vending machines and arcade game fronts fell away, to reveal hundreds of Numemon, just as more appeared from the washrooms.

"Ugh, there's more of them!" Sakura groaned as she pinched her nose in misery.

"If you die and give us the girls, we'll be nice and maybe forgive you for deleting one of us," One of them shouted hatefully, eyes going straight for Keramon, then back to the others, as he and others stared lustfully at Sana and Sakura.

"Um, Michiru why are they looking at me like that?" Sana wondered innocently, scared despite herself as she suddenly felt tiny, the stares garnered furious looks from Biyomon and Michiru.

"Spiral Twister!" Biyomon blasted, sending a few flying back.

"What are-Oh you filthy pervs!" Sakura screamed as she back away, pulling Sana to behind her so as to shield her with her own body not that the kid resisted, as she was too scared to do so, while Kotemon furiously stepped forward to also protect her.

"How did they get like this?" Itachi asked moved to pity despite himself, as he stared at them in pity only to catch himself. Pity was oft-times crueller than anything else one could inflict upon others, he knew this from personal experience.

"K-keep back," Kaitou murmured frightened by the hate in those eyes, as Dorumon raced forward to pelt a few blasts at them.

"Metal Cannon!" He spewed it out from his mouth, as he then told everyone, "Run!"

Not needing any encouragement, the children bust out into the cloudy outdoors with a mini-army of Numemon lobbing their disgusting attacks after them. With Sana separating herself from Sakura when she noticed that Michiru had fallen behind a little. Despite her unknown, instinctive fear she moved to be nearer to him, determined not to leave her annoying older brother behind.

"I h-hate these things!" Michiru grunted as he ran, unused to such strenuous running.

"Sana, get back here!" Sakura shouted as she reached out a hand to try and grab her, but the smaller girl scurried away from her, fast as a pixie and even lighter on her feet than one normally was on their wings.

"I'll protect her," Biyomon assured her as she flew after her partner.

"Be careful!" Kotemon called after him as he grabbed Sakura's other hand to pull her along. "Keramon pick up Itachi, we can't afford to have him fall behind!"

"I can run for myself," Itachi barely managed to get out before he was grabbed by his partner and hoisted off his feet.

"Don't give me orders," Keramon shouted back, having already been in the middle of reaching for his partner to do just that. "Make for the sea."

"But the storm-" Kaitou started to say only to be interrupted by his partner.

"Numemon hate the sea," Dorumon explained as he moved in that direction.

Suddenly the skies darkened over even more as Michiru grabbing his sister's hand pulled her after the others, as she called out his name once she reached him with Biyomon blasting at one of the Numemon who responded with his own attack. The Numemon though were for the moment more perceptive than their would-be victims when they discovered up in the skies the shape of someone flying on a broomstick.

Struck by fear, they at first came to a stop then backed away slowly, only to then break into an open run back for the empty arcade to await their next victims and avoid the wroth of the Witchmon sisters.

"Huh? They're leaving us alone," Elecmon noted confused as he noticed the disgusting creatures were falling back.

"Thank heavens," Michiru gasped grateful to be freed from that stench, as he glanced about for the others, then for him to sigh, "Guess we'd better meet with the others by the riverside, stay by my side Sana."

"Don't tell me what to do," Sana grumbled as she found her defiance and ego once more, only to fall in step with him as she was told.

Shaking his head at her, as he told her, "Yet you do as you're told anyways, go figure. Sana why can't you do anything without biting my head off?"

"Well, why can't you ever talk to me without going off about computers or other things like it," Sana shot back with a vicious look in his direction that he ignored with a shake of his head.

"Sana, I'm your big brother so can't you do as I tell you sometimes, if that means leaving me behind and saving yourself then do it, it is what mom and dad would have wanted." Michiru scolded his tone rising a little with the heat of the emotions that gripped him.

"Oh dear, I don't think this is gonna end well," Biyomon remarked, far more perceptive than Michiru could be at times in regards to his sister, he could see the tell-tale signs that the thirteen year old was unaware of, and that Sana was about to explode.

"Well why don't you ever want to talk about them, without using them in arguments? Maybe I want to talk about them sometimes, and all you do is ignore and pretend they were never there. They were here, you cruel jerk!" Sana screamed as she felt her face becoming red fighting back without a great deal of success the tears that threatened to come out, they prickled her eyes but didn't pour down quite yet.

"Sana," Elecmon murmured sad for her and moved to compassion, as Michiru looked down disconsolate.

"Sana, grow up, harsh as it sounds, I can't do anything about it right now. Which is why, I'm sorry for bringing them up," Michiru mumbled his voice raspy despite himself, as emotion rocked him to his core something he was unused to. "We have to meet back up, with the others, so let's go."

"Of course, we can't discuss this, and you're sorry for bringing them up because that'd mean talking about it!" Sana shrieked too gripped by her emotions to care about sense, having bottled what she felt for too long.

She wasn't sure what happened then, she heard Michiru and Elecmon cry out her name, even as she tore off to meet with the others, or where she thought they'd be, all she knew was that she suddenly wished she was back in Japan, away from Digiworld, away from Numemon and away from Michiru most of all.

"I'll go after her," She dimly heard someone say behind her, flying after her as she fell to the ground, only to feel someone appear to help her sit up after almost what felt like an hour of running, "Sana, are you okay?"

"I just want to go home! I want things to be like they were before," Sana moaned as she began to hiccup and her nose began to run, heaving as sobs shook her entire body and soul, she felt herself getting taken into Biyomon's arms as she was wracked by grief. "I miss them, so much!"

"There, there," Biyomon said fresh out of jokes, nor did he wish to crack any as he held her miserably, he hated the sound of her weeping, of her being sad or weak. He admired and loved her for her strength, but he well understood that these tears were necessary, in spite of what she might think or want. "I'm here, and always will be."

"That's impossible," Sana sobbed as she held onto the feathers of Biyomon's back, needing some form of comfort then.

"Nothing's impossible in Digiworld," Biyomon said brushing away her tears with the edge of his hand/paw/wing, with a gentle look in his eyes, he told her, "And I've never told a lie to you Sana."

"Except when you told me-"

"Okay, maybe I have once or twice, but I swear to you that in matters that are important to you, I will never lie to you. Ever." Biyomon vowed then holding her by the shoulders, he added, with his own heart in his eyes, "You are my best friend, and I waited an eternity for you and I'd wait another one if need be, so if I say we'll never be apart ever again, then that's truth."

"Oh, Biyomon!" Sana gasped as she grabbed onto her partner to sob some more, even as her partner gripped her tightly fighting back his own tears, those that only the greatest of friends could shed; the sort of tears shed in shared loss even if he had never known her parents, he could feel her grief in his own heart and it tore his soul apart to shreds.

It was some time before they would move from there, undisturbed and left along by the raging storm, as Biyomon pulled her over towards one particularly huge oak that had a small opening near the ground.

"Let's get you hidden in there, it's better to take cover from this horrid storm," the bird said firmly as he kept his hands on her shoulders.

"Yeah," She hiccupped as she fought down her tears, feeling embarrassed by how she had freaked out on Michiru, and by how she had broken down in front of Michiru.

"There, better?" Biyomon asked as he helped her sit down on the moss, a look of concern painted onto his hawk-like features as he smiled gently at her.

"Yeah," She mumbled beneath her breath staring at her feet.

"Now, care to answer my question; why are you so angry with Michiru?" Biyomon asked her, consternation on his face, "I know he can be fairly hard-headed and inattentive at the best of times, but he isn't a bad brother or friend to have. You two share a bond, I could never fully have, so explain it to me."

"I just-I don't want to pretend anymore, I miss my parents is all," Sana replied eyes on her feet in shame and pain, as Biyomon stared her down.

"I can understand, you love deeply. But remember, what would you do if anything happened to Michiru?" Biyomon queried patiently, "I know you regret what you said deep down, and that you miss your family. You have every reason to, but just remember that Michiru is struggling too, and that you two are stronger together, than apart."

"I know, I just-I want him to miss and talk about them too, but instead he never wants to," Sana informed him quietly, a stark contrast to her usual brusque manner.

"I know, and I understand, he should so why don't we go back, or find him by the beach once this stupid storm blows over, and I'll tear the truth out of him and you two will be able to talk about this." Biyomon suggested gently with a small smile, "I'm sure you'll feel better with my help, heck Dorumon and Elecmon will probably want to get him to talk too, and Kotemon also."

"Th-thanks, you're the best Biyomon," Sana thanked him, causing him to puff up a little.

"I really am, aren't I?" Biyomon responded cheerily as he wiped away her tears, "But know that I only can be, when I have the greatest partner ever, by my side."

"Biyomon," Sana gasped moved beyond words, by her friend's support as she glanced up right after her partner, as the storm blew over.

"There, now much better and see the sun's coming out, so let's get going unless you need some more space to yourself."

"I'm fine," Sana mumbled as she rose to her feet and followed after her partner, who led the way to the beach where they had anchored the boat, only to find the boat there but nobody else.

This fact caught the attention of both of them, as they charged out into the open to look about with Sana and Biyomon calling out to them. But nobody came, they were truly alone now.

"Where are they?" Sana wondered as she pointed at the row-boat, "Boat's here but they ain't so they didn't leave without us."

"Look, their footprints, in the sand," Biyomon noted as he pointed them out, where almost a dozen footprints were seen heading towards the beach, then heading away from it. "Looks like they ran both ways, I wonder if something scared them off the beach."

"I wouldn't have ran, I'm not scared of nothing," Sana said needing her bravado back, and puffing out her chest a little.

"Except of smelly old Numemon," Her partner joked.

"It's cause, they smell so bad, and no other reason." Sana rebutted with a grin as she felt marginally better and more like her usual self, as she raced forward, "Then let's go find those schmucks, and bring them back!"

"Roger, I'll be right by your side as always," Biyomon cheered as he tore off after her, determined to reunite with their friends.

Over the next few minutes they followed the footprints, which led into the woods, both of them weaving about and avoiding tree branches, the fallen oaks that seemed to be attempting to tell them to turn back. Having lost the trail Biyomon had to resist the vague sensation of despair in his gut, as he stared about fruitlessly in an attempt to rediscover the trail left behind by their friends, only to have to admit defeat.

"We've lost their trail," He confessed to the young girl who then with a shrug lifted a single hand to the side of her mouth.

"Michiru! Elecmon! Kaitou! Dorumon! Kira, you blow-hard come on out!" She yelled out into the woods in frustration, only for her friend to perk his ears a little, and then to clasp a hand over her mouth when she sucked in a breath to try to lure out her friends again.

"Quiet, I heard something," Biyomon told her, as he strained his own eyes and ears, "Listen."

Nodding her head, to signal that she understood him she strained her own ears, there it was they discovered. That sound floated up on the breeze also; it was the sound of giggles, of laughter.

"It sounds like, laughter like someone's having fun," Sana whispered to her friend as she grew suspicious after a moment, "Almost like a party."

"I know," Biyomon agreed just as silently, his beak barely opening or moving so quiet was he.

"We have to go check it out, it might be one of the others," Sana suggested as she crept forward from behind the tree that stood between them and the sound, then around a few more trees and over a fallen log, to discover Sakura.

It was the older girl, and yet the manner in which she was behaving was completely unlike her, in particular since she had entered Digiworld. She was giggling. Sakura was running about laughing, picking at berries, herbs and racing about carelessly. The perpetual worry on her face was long gone, leaving only happiness behind.

'What's happened to her?' Sana wondered to herself, as she gaped at the other girl, only for Biyomon to note one thing, one major detail that concerned him more than Sakura's behaviour.

"Where is Kotemon?" the bird digimon whispered from next to her, with a frown his words causing the young girl to perk up and look around, only to notice that yeah, Kotemon was oddly absent.

"Yeah, I didn't notice it but he's not there, maybe we should ask her about that," Sana said thinking that hiding wouldn't reveal anything, her partner nodded slowly, cautious.

"Sure but be careful, I got a bad feeling about all this," Biyomon warned as they stepped out from behind the shadows.

"Hey Sakura."

"Oh, Sana so good to see you, where did you come from? Oh no matter, are you here to get eaten too?" Sakura asked happily twirling about amongst the flowers of the small clearing where some beautiful peonies were growing.

"Say what now?" The younger girl asked, as she wondered if the older female had lost her last marble.

"Oh, it took me a bit of getting used to the idea, but now I'm so free of care and excited to get eaten alive!" Sakura gushed out with a giggle, only to become serious, "Don't tell Kira I said that, he's getting pretty unfair and serious about the whole thing."

"Uuhhh sure, um is Michiru anywhere to be found?" Sana questioned, hoping there was someone with some sense to be found.

"Michiru? Certainly."

"And where is Kotemon?" Biyomon asked tearing at the seams with curiosity, as he stared at the young girl in bewilderment.

"Kotemon?" And for the first time a frown found it's way to her friendly face, only for a blissful yet dismissive look to find its way onto her face. "I dropped him like a bad habit, who needs him anyways?"

"But he's your partner!" Biyomon uttered shocked.

"Yes, yes but if I had stayed with him, how could I be eaten alive?" Sakura asked him only to shrug indifferently, only for her eyes to brighten up in a bit of excitement. "Say, why don't you come along too? If you promise not to cut the line, then you could be eaten too."

"Uh, sure whatever you say," Sana assented not sure what to make of her friend's newfound insanity.

"Wait, are you serious Sana?" Biyomon hissed eyeing the ignorant Sakura who was already ready to lead the way further into the forest, with an excitement that surprised both of them. "She's cracked."

"Well yeah, I just want to find Michiru and Elecmon, as to Sakura she seemed like she was already pretty cracked if you ask me," Sana answered with a shrug, as her partner considered her words only to slowly nod.

"True," Biyomon agreed as he with a sigh decided to follow after her, shaking his head all the while as he did so.

"This way, this way," Sakura called out to them as she led the way, guiding them around one path or another, only for the sound of voices to greet them, most of which were familiar.

They were arguing, whining and therefore immediately recognizable as the Digidestined. Sana was about to surge forward, when Biyomon stopped her, shaking his head and having grabbed onto her by the waist.

"Don't, we need to scope out the situation first," Biyomon told her cautiously, as he stared from around her, only for her partner to growl then relent reluctantly.

"Oooohhhh that Kira, I just knew he'd try to cut the line while I was out getting supplies," Sakura growled furiously, as she stomped on over as the argument wafted over to the ears of the hidden chosen and digimon.

"Can't you do anything right for once? I know it's an unusual concept for you, but try to be careful and mindful of the repercussions of your actions, Itachi." Kira was insulting as he waved his arms from within the small hut where the children were all gathered inside of.

"Something you should learn more about, it isn't my fault and I'll make you regret it someday!" Itachi shot back furiously, clearly on the verge of hitting the other boy, as Kaitou's voice was heard then too.

"Guys please don't fight, I'm begging you, I hate it when you do." He sounded absolutely dismal, as he pleaded with them.

"All I'm saying is teamwork, and as the only one to know how to properly cook, I should be the first to be eaten." Kira lectured them.

"I know a few decent recipes for stew, if you'd care to hear them," Michiru offered clearly hoping to take the bite out of the argument between the siblings.

"Give them over, but make sure they're better than the duck stew I know, from my grandmother. Trust me, when I say cooking is an art-form, and one you don't want to screw up with butter-fingers or with lack of vision," Was the pompous rebuttal from the melodramatic young boy.

"And I told you before I left, not to cut the line," Sakura interrupted furious and ill-impressed by her friend having broken his promise.

"Things changed and-don't put that in there!" Kira warned, halting his conversation with her midway through to scream at Itachi, genuine worry in his voice, "Just because you found some black powder in a jar, doesn't make it edible for consumption! Now we gotta start over from scratch."

"For the fifth time." Michiru groaned unhappily, "Face it Kira, you're slowing us down almost as much as him."

"No, I'm not!"

"Michiru is there," Sana gasped happily only to halt, listen some more and hear the latter part, "Wait he's cracked too! Wow, I knew Kira was pompous but this is really amazing."

"We need to discover what's happened to them." Biyomon murmured, only to remark with a frown as she pulled her friend to the ground so that they were hidden in the bushes, "If only we could see who the culprit is."

"Hey, I thought I said no fighting, I want my meal prepped before I got back." A loud booming James Earl Jones like bass was heard as a large minotaur shaped figure appeared from behind the hut, carrying a large wooden table which he placed before the hut.

"And I said it'd be ready, but these guys keep screwing with the recipe!" Kira said furiously, quick to pin the blame on the others.

"Hey, no fair! You liar, you're just as guilty," Itachi cried out in outrage.

"Yeah, you keep trying to cut the line and start over, you narcissistic jerk," Sakura growled at him just as the large figure waved his left hand to dismiss the argument.

"Be quiet, and tell it to me straight, is the food available for consumption or at least a nip, to see if you're coming along?" the Minotaur boomed impatiently, as Kira shook his head and Itachi heartily nodded his head. "Okay then, I'll try some of it."

"Great!" Itachi cheered sticking his tongue out at the older boy who shook his head miserably.

"Who is that guy Biyomon?" Sana enquired as she studied the strange digimon, who's right hand ended in some black piece of machinery.

Digimon Analyzer/Biyomon, "That's Minotarumon, he's usually a fairly tolerant digimon, he'd never eat people what with how friendly he can be. But watch out for his Blast Rings, it'll devastate his enemies, leaving nothing left of you."

"Oh, he sure is big," Sana muttered as the large digimon accepted the bowl full of stew that Itachi offered him, sniffing at it he seemed to become satisfied only to take a few cautionary sips.

Then it started. At first it started with Minotarumon getting sweaty, then he seemed to pale, then he vomited profusely, then he gripped his gut in pure agony as he let loose the loudest and most heart-ripping shriek of pure agony that Sana had ever heard in her life. It actually pulled at her heart-strings a little.

"Soooo, do you like it?" Michiru asked cluelessly, as Minotarumon stumbled away in agony.

"I don't think he does," Kira muttered a hint of sarcasm and bite in his voice. "Don't you know? Itachi can't cook. He gets it from his mom's side of the family."

"Hey! It isn't my fault," Itachi objected only for three people to point out how wrong that was.

"Actually, it kinda've is." They said at the same time (Kira, Kaitou and Sakura of all people).

"Hmph!"

"Wow, note it down Biyomon never let Itachi cook. Ever." Sana said to her partner whilst Minotarumon crawled away, in pure abject agony.

"Noted."

"Where are you going lord Minotarumon?" Sakura called after him, as he glanced over his shoulder at her.

"By the river, I have a john there, and a cabinet full of meds, I need all of 'em right now!" Minotarumon groaned as he wept openly only to disappear into the woods, whilst the Digidestined stared helplessly after him.

"This is your fault," Kira said savagely, swift to lay blame upon the shoulders of the young dark-haired boy.

"Either way, how's about we follow a proper recipe this time, Itachi you can run errands for us," Sakura suggested taking charge a bit.

"She's right, teamwork should help us in this endeavour," Michiru added just as he caught sight of his younger sister as she burst out from her hiding spot then, "Oh it's Sana, are you here to get yourself eaten too?"

"Nah, I ain't and neither are any of you!" Sana argued back, "So saddle up guys, I'm getting us all out of here!"

"But we can't do that," Kaitou replied urgently, "We already promised Minotarumon that he could eat us, and we can't break our promise!"

"Tough."

"Sana! We have to do it, don't you see? This is the sole reason for our existence, and for our coming here," Michiru explained to her as though she were a particularly dense child.

"He's right you know, just imagine us bubbling and melting away in that beautiful delicious stew, I always loved art and cooking, but now we get to be part of such things. Literally, isn't it wonderful?" Kira said eagerly to her disgust, while Biyomon stared him down quizzically.

"Sure, whatever floats your boat Kira, here's the plan you could stay behind while the rest of us run for it." Biyomon proposed.

"Biyomon!"

"It was just a thought," He defended himself lightly, only to turn to the other Digidestined, "Where are your partners, the other digimon?"

"Them? They tried to stop us, so they had to be locked up in a chest, Minotarumon got it from a friend, he restrained them and forced them into it, when they wouldn't listen." Michiru explained with a shrug. "It's inside the hut near the fridge."

"Let's go, Biyomon!" Sana said figuring they'd know what happened and what to do, as she blazed past the others and into the hut, to where she found the said fridge only to locate the large golden chest, where she could now hear the vague sound of furious voices from within it.

"Don't you push me!" Elecmon could be heard.

"You're too fat, I can barely breathe!" Dracomon complained loudly as he nearly wept, with Biyomon wincing in sympathy for him.

"Your tails are in my face," Keramon growled sounding about ready to blast both of them.

"It isn't my fault," Dorumon argued weakly.

"Don't try blasting again Keramon, it won't work against the walls of this thing, remember last time?" Kotemon could be heard cautioning him as he grumbled, "If only I had my shinai."

"You guys in there?" Sana asked as she tapped the top of the chest with her fist, causing it to rock a little bit, while her partner glanced over at the shinai next to the large chest.

"Hey, it's Sana!" Dorumon gasped from within the chest, clearly excited.

"Help us get out of here!" Kotemon pleaded desperately.

"Then let me blast the lock off, stand back Sana," Biyomon ordered only for Dracomon's voice to come out from inside the box.

"Just be careful, Biyomon all our attacks bounce off the chest so yours will likely do the same thing." Dracomon warned worriedly.

"Fetch the key, and hurry or else!" Keramon threatened furiously.

"That was mean, try asking more nicely Keramon," Dorumon pleaded only to whimper as what sounded like a kick was heard from inside.

"Also, don't let the others get themselves eaten, distract them somehow or something," Kotemon cried out.

"How do I do that? And what's happened to them, I mean Sakura I understand was always two steps away from doing this, but everyone else has gone crazy," Sana asked of them as she glanced over her shoulder at her friends.

"It's some sort of spell or hypnotism or something, it'll disappear once the Dark Ring is removed from Minotarumon, the spell and ring are linked via data," Keramon answered impatiently.

"How do you know that?" Biyomon asked amazed by him.

"I can see data, now hurry," Keramon explained importantly, as the box shook again, "Else Elecmon's gonna crush us all!"

"Hey! I'm big-boned you pipsqueaks!" Elecmon objected furiously, "Don't make me tear out your lungs!"

Sana didn't stick around to listen to the rest of the argument as she pondered how to get the others away from, the kitchen where they were hurriedly cooking together, as she considered this problem.

To say thinking was not a favourite thing to do of hers, was in her opinion an understatement, Michiru was the genius in the family not her. She was the sporty one, 'sparky' her daddy used to call her, because of how much energy she had. If it was tactics in a basketball match (her daddy and her favourite sport), if it was figuring out sports, or new games or maybe even math class or how to weasel candy from kindly old men or old ladies, that she could do. But to outsmart everyone? Especially Michiru, Sakura and Kira? No way.

"What are you thinking Sana?" Biyomon asked, interrupting her thoughts, "This one's gonna be hard, we could set the hut on fire."

"That wouldn't work, Michiru would figure out how to put it out fast, and even if he didn't Sakura would, given how prepared and fast she can move when she panics."

"What are we going to do?"

"Wait, my brother loves visual novels, mostly the Suikoden ones and those weird Persona games, but in each one he always asks himself one question; what motivates everyone? We just gotta figure out the most important thing to them," Sana said to her partner thinking back on all the times she had watched her otaku brother play video games, when they were younger, before he was always working or at school.

"Well that's simple; getting eaten right now." Biyomon replied as both of their eyes lit up at the exact same time.

"That's it! Are you thinking what I'm thinking, Biyomon?"

"I sure hope I am, let's go trick those idiots!"

They took off towards the others, only to stop them before they could empty Itachi's monstrosity, onto the ground as Sana wolf-whistled at them from between her two pinkies. With everyone's irritated attention stuck upon her, she swallowed a little and fastened a smirk onto her face.

"Wait, don't do that! That cauldron is contaminated!" She told them, waving her arms over her head, "What we need is a new cauldron, and new food supplies!"

"That's a little harsh don't you think?" Itachi grunted back, insulted by the criticism his 'cooking' had garnered.

"She has a point, but where would we get such supplies?" Kira asked confused.

"By the beach, I found earlier the Numemon's hidden stash of full fridges, by the beach on the west coast of the island, just south of where the row-boat is." Sana lied, pointing in the opposite direction of where Minotarumon had crawled off to.

"But wait, how did you find them?" Sakura wondered.

"Michiru and I had a fight, I took off and discovered the food there," Sana improvised as she glanced at them all desperately, hoping against hope that they'd believe her.

Michiru's gaze met hers, troubled and ashamed, he seemed to be trying to say something to her with his eyes, and she felt her gaze fastened by his, as he looked down in shame. When he raised his eyes, there was a softness there, an apology in them, "I'll go check it out. Sana's never told a lie in her life, and she won't start now."

"I believe in her too!" Kaitou pipped up with a warm smile in her direction, "I'll go too!"

"Guys," Sana murmured moved by how blindly they trusted her, in spite of the circumstances.

"Alright, if it's good enough for you two, then I'll trust in her too," Sakura added her voice as Itachi silently nodded his head, whilst Kira sighed.

"I suppose she'd understand the importance of cooking as an art, better than Itachi." Kira admitted with a slight smile in her direction, earning him a scowl from the boy he was always picking on.

"And I'll see about getting rid of the stew, so don't you guys worry about it." She promised thinking fast.

They took off after gently putting down the cauldron, as Sana eyed it speculatively, with Biyomon giggling a little to himself, "Wow, they sure trust you."

"I guess, I still want to talk with Michiru later," She retorted longing to make peace with her brother.

"You will, but after we deal with Minotarumon," Biyomon vowed as he glanced about to make sure the giant digimon wasn't around. "Now what Sana? How are we supposed to fight that digimon? He's a lot stronger than I am, and he probably has the key on his person, and I don't know about you but I don't think a spiral twister could do the job against him."

"Then we'll use much bigger firepower," Sana decided as she rushed into the hut to pull out a spoon and a bowl, only to return outside where the cauldron had been placed, so that she could pour a bowl and set it onto the table for Minotarumon. "If we could get him to eat this, then I'm sure we'll stand a better chance, you saw how disgusting it was."

"You could say that again, brilliant thinking and here, I'll get rid of the cauldron and hide it, along with myself so as to avoid suspicion, and you could pretend to be enchanted too." Biyomon suggested as he dragged the pot away, leaving her to wait for the giant. She didn't have to wait long.

He came back a few minutes later, after they had gotten rid of the sizzling stew that melted some of the grass just a short distance from the hut, he took one look at the girl and scowled uncertainly, with Sana bowing respectfully towards him.

"Who are you?" He asked confused.

"The last kid, the others went to go look for some more supplies, but Kira and I whipped up this little bit of stew for you to give you a fore-taste of what's to come." She lied hoping he'd buy it, though she knew there was no way he might fall for her little lie.

He brought it, as he sank to the ground before the table with a sigh of relief, as he mentally went over her words with some difficulty, "I knew there were supposed to be six of you."

"Yep, so eat up, eat up!" Sana insisted as she all but forced the bowl into his giant arm, only now noticing what was causing to act more primitively now that she was up close and personal; a Dark Ring was clasped around his bulging, ripped right arm.

"O-okay, but it better be better than-than that horrid thing," Minotarumon grunted shuddering in fear and pain at the mere memory of it, unaware of what the little girl was scheming, he took a few sips only to freeze where he was. He sweated, his eyes rolled up, he frothed at the mouth and screamed once more, although there was a hint of rage there too.

"Now!" Sana called out to Biyomon who nodded and charged from inside the hut, her attack at the ready.

"Spiral Twister!" The green burst of energy tore through the air towards the minotaur who gave a small cry and struck out with his black weapon on his left arm.

"Blast Rings!"

"Move Sana!" Biyomon cried out as he tackled Sana out of the way of the incoming attack, saving her life.

"Thanks, Biyomon!"

"Anytime, partner." Biyomon said without fear as Minotarumon stood shakily to give chase only to collapse back to his feet with tears in his eyes from the sheer agony and effort of it all. Tottering back up, he nearly fell forward only to catch himself and bellow loudly in rage.

"I'll get you, you little witch!" He screamed furiously as he tried to take a swipe at her.

"Spiral Twister!" Biyomon shot back blasting at his eyes and missing, only to try again, this time for his arm, he hit the target but it was too sturdy for his pitiful attack. "Spiral Twister!"

"Spiral Twister!" He tried again, only to hit the minotaur in his injured gut, which was still nauseous and sensitive earning him a roar of agony and rage, as Minotarumon bashed at him with his right fist earning him a cry of pain.

"R-run Sana," Biyomon moaned as he shot her a pleading look, having lost control of the fight, yet thinking only of the girl who was frozen where she'd fallen over, temporarily forgotten by the large bull-digimon.

Minotarumon dodged another blast, and kicking out he knocked Biyomon away from Sana only to make to attack the bird again, "Now you die!"

'No! Not Biyomon, I need him! I've lost everything already, what would I have without him?' Sana wondered as she thought over the last few days, and particularly over the last few hours, over how Biyomon had helped her, supported her and promised to always be her friend. Life without Biyomon, would be too much like how it was before she came to Digiworld and met him; empty, aimless and without anyone to listen to her feelings, to understand her even when she was unreasonable and yet, someone who could also understand Michiru's side of things. 'I need him, he's my best friend!'

"BIYOMON!" She shrieked with all of her energy as her Digivice glowed brightly with a shining green light.

"Woah!" Biyomon called out as he began to shine a little, with Minotarumon dazed by the light, his Dark Ring having difficulties coping with the situation and light, "Biyomon digivolve tooo… Aquilamon!"

Suddenly in place of the bright pink digimon stood a looming hawk, at least twice the size of Minotarumon to maybe three times his size, with bright red plumage with some white here and there, such as around his neck, and with huge horns on his head. Aquilamon was an imposing and fearsome sight, a majestic digimon he roared out at Minotarumon.

Digimon Analyzer/Sana, "Ha! I knew Biyomon had a trump card somewhere, Aquilamon is tougher, meaner and way cooler than that pink fluffy exterior from before. Minotarumon's gonna have a much harder time kicking this bird around!"

Beating his wings he took flight from the small clearing, departing the small area only to turn about and fire off from his large beak, a sonic beam, "Sonic Cry!"

It served little purpose, as Minotarumon was unfazed so powerful was he, as his foe fired another attack, and as he leapt to strike back only for Aquilamon to fly higher, faster than a speeding bullet.

He then turned about to confront Minotarumon when he clumsily landed back on the ground, his footing still shaky, "Grand Horn!"

The horns on the bird glowed a bright red colour as they slammed into the forearm of the minotaur who gave a loud roar, before he collapsed to the ground as the Dark Ring fell from him and dissolved into the air with a slight whirring sound.

"Wh-what happened to me? And why do I feel so ill?" Minotarumon wondered to no one in particular as he placed a hand over his heaving mouth.

Aquilamon meanwhile flapped his wings a little gaining a bit of momentum only to start falling as he de-digivolved back to Biyomon, with a groan as he fell straight into Sana's arm, causing the little girl to collapse to the ground due to them being approximately of similar size (Biyomon weighs a great deal more).

"Oooofff, diet why don't you!" Sana said to her.

"Don't plan to," Biyomon mumbled sleepily back, "And don't care to."

"What happened?" Minotarumon queried as confused as ever. "I had the strangest nightmare."

Some time later, the Digidestined who had come racing back, after their partners were released and sent out to find them, stood facing the still monstrously ill Minotarumon who was very obviously embarrassed by what nearly happened.

"I'm so sorry about what happened, I never would like to eat you, especially with most of you looking like you haven't bathed in a while," Minotarumon jested as he apologized with all the sincerity anyone could possibly ever muster, especially in such a weird situation. "Also sorry for beating you digimon up and shoving you into a crate like that."

"No problem, we know it was that awful Dark Ring controlling you," Dracomon said waving his concerns away, "Let bygones be bygones I say."

"I think we've all learned a lesson in forgiveness today," Dorumon agreed feeling good again, especially now that he was free again, only for Sakura to joke for the first time in awhile.

"And cooking too, right Itachi?" Sakura asked with a hint of levity as the dark boy stared at his feet with pink cheeks.

"Sh-shut up, and don't ever mention that again." He said under his breath.

"I think I've got my own apology to make," Sana began looking at Michiru from the corner of her eye, from the front of the group as he shook his head a little.

"You were right, and while I still need some time, maybe after we get back home we'll be able to talk, and if not then at least by the time we reach the top of Infinitum Isle's top mountain, how's that sound?" Michiru proposed as he smiled down at her proudly, causing Sana to beam back, glad to have made progress with him, "And for what it's worth, I'm sorry."

"That's it, how's about we all have a huge cook-out today, with Minotarumon, I'll cook everything!" Kira said excited and moved by the sheer amount of emotion in the air, "It'll be the best dinner any of us ever have!"

"YEAH!" Dracomon cheered pumping up his arm too, as the Digidestined cheered too.

"Just please, can we make it soup and some simple bread? I don't think I could stand to have any more stew for a while." Minotarumon stated with a groan. "I'll supply the ingredients from my fridge, before you leave to find Apemon on Infinitum."


Sana Akechi: Where Michiru began blander, Sana started off far more violent with the original idea being for her to be something of a gangster or Japanese female thug, then the idea became to de-age her from fourteen to nine years old. The only constant was that she'd be angry with Michiru, though at first the story between the two was going to be more about her, and now it's more about the both of them. She was also originally thought up as little more than a love-interest, but this was discarded and I'm glad I did so, as I detested her for being too violent, too angry and too much of a stereotype. Instead, she was de-aged, made far more sensitive, made a tomboy yes, but one who loves sports over violence to some extent, and given far more of her own story and interactions with the other characters.

While not everything will turn out as one expects or desires it to, Sana though not my favourite, has a very special place in my heart, because she went from something of an annoyance to being simply a hurt little girl, who feels far more true like this. And the ideas around her, became far tamer, far more real because now she's her own character, her own star. She also became snarkier, more clever and with Biyomon as her partner, she became something like Tai, someone with someone to bounce off of, just as he has Agumon, Izzy and Sora. So I'm very pleased with how she turned out, far simpler yet far more complex a character than ever before. Rather like her brother in that regard.