Amy Rose is here! Will she help Nokia face her fear?

Sonic was rolling downhill on a skateboard collecting rings and even a Red Start Ring until he got off it to go around a loop and was sent flying towards a small island where the portal was. "That was easy. Hope Nokia's doing okay on her end." he said before he flew inside.

Amy Rose glared at the copy she just smacked in the face with her hammer as it got up. "And just what do you think you're doing here?" the copy asked.

"Protecting my friend." the hedgehog replied.

"Friend"?!" the copy scoffed. "Please! You haven't even known her long enough to know all the things she's done wrong!"

"Actually, I do know." Amy said looking back at Nokia. "I saw what happened here. I'll admit, Nokia's made her share of mistakes. But… so have I. So has Sonic and many other good people I know. Nobody goes through their lives without doing something wrong. Sonic and Takumi know that better than anyone."

"Hey, at least they learned from their mistakes." the copy shrugged. "Nokia hasn't change at all!"

"She's right…" Nokia muttered watching her tears hit the floor. "Takumi…Arata…Yuuko…Keisuke… all of them grew during our adventure… but I… I'm still the stupid coward I was as a little kid! Who was I kidding?!

Amy walked over to Nokia and put her hammer down to hold the girl's shoulders. "Nokia, that's not true and you know it! Think about all the things you accomplished! The Rebels were a team far beyond Jude and Zaxon. While those teams acted on self-interest, yours worked to help many Digimon when nobody else would stand up for them."

"But… but I also forced Takumi, Arata and Chitose to suffer so much here…"

"And you helped them stop Leopardmon and save your world! Kyoko said it herself, uniting the hackers was something only you could do! And you did that with your powerful passion and love for the world! So, what if you're not as smart as Takumi, Yuuko or Arata! You have a strength that the others lacked! A powerful will that never gets deterred!"

Nokia looked up from her tears. "My…strength…?"

"Arata, Yuuko, even Takumi faced doubt at times with their choices. But you didn't! You stuck true to your nature and pushed forward! You saw your desire to help Digimon through to the end!" Amy looked at Omnimon. "And nobody knows that better than him."

Nokia looked at her Digimon as he sat up. "Omnimon…"

"Remember what Omnimon said when he reached that level here? He was summoned by something powerful. A pure bond a friendship. You gave him that Nokia! That power is as much yours as it is his! Yes, maybe coming here hurt people, but it also allowed Omnimon to become that strong and regain his memories! Where would the others be without all of that? That's the power of your love for him!"

"That's right…" Omnimon was on one knee. "You're love for Digimon and the world…brought this miracle…" Omnimon said. "You, bravery allowed me to help others…"

"Pfft! Bravery? Don't make me laugh!" the fake Nokia scoffed. "She just acted on her own beliefs disregarding the feelings or opinions of others! That was self-righteousness!"

Amy glared at the clone. "Maybe it is to you! But that's not all there is to it!" Amy clasped her hands. "Nokia's love helped so many Digimon! She didn't do it because she wanted to prove to everyone she was right about them! She did it to help those Digimon who were lost and scared! That's what makes her a valuable friend to Takumi, to Arata, to Yuuko and to me!"

Nokia wiped her tears. "Amy…"

"Nokia, you promised alongside Takumi to make a world where humans and Digimon got along! You have the love to do that, but right now, Crusadermon wants to destroy your world to stop that from happening and Takumi's consciousness it scattered through Cyber Space! What will you do? What do you think Takumi and Omnimon are expecting you to do?"

Nokia stood up and lowered her arm from her eyes. "I… I…" She opened them with a determined glare. "I will keep going! I'm gonna bring Takumi back and knock Crusadermon and that creepy voice into oblivion! And we'll go home together and make that world for humans and Digimon! Me! Takumi! Arata! Yuuko! Omnimon! Together we'll make it work out!"

Amy smiled. "That's the Nokia we all need!"

The copy rolled her eyes. "Alright, anymore if this and I'm gonna throw up. Alter-B, put an end to their silly fairy tale."

Omnimon Alter-B rushed at the girls with his sword out. Then Omnimon stepped in front of them. "Omnimon!" Nokia shouted. "I'm here with you!"

Omnimon threw his Garurumon hand forward as it glowed gold. The head transformed and a sword came out blocking Alter-Bs. He knocked his opponent's blade away then held his Greymon head forward. It flashed red and transformed before a cannon came out and fired a golden beam at Alter-B blowing him away. "What?!" the copy gasped.

Omnimon stepped forward. "Nokia… I stand by your side! Together we will rescue Takumi and bring forth a future for humans and Digimon!"

Nokia's Digivice glowed. "Yeah! And we'll do it in a way only we can! With our love for our friends and our worlds!" She held it up and it glowed brighter.

Omnimon roared as a pillar of pure light engulfed him. He had red horns now and larger shoulder pads with spikes. "Omnimon Digivolved?!" Amy gasped.

The new Omnimon kneeled to Nokia and offered his hand. "Nokia, I, Omnimon Alter-S will be your strength. Together, we will illuminate all possibilities!"

Nokia stepped onto her Digimon's hand letting him put her on his shoulder. "Totally! We can do anything together!"

Amy smiled as Nokia and Alter-S folded their arms reminding her of the vision that showed Omnimon's creation here in Under Zero. "You two really are amazing."

The fake Nokia growled. "I've had enough of this nonsense! I'll show you all just how powerless you truly are!" Her other arm also became a blade and a mask appeared over the top half of her head resembling a Guardian Ninja's head.

Amy picked up her Piko Piko hammer. "Here we go! Nokia, Omnimon, let's try that again!"

"You got it!" Nokia replied. The two Alter Omnimons charged towards each other. Their swords clashed one more and a loud clang echoed. They backed away from each other before they ascended glowing white and black. Alter-S flew off with Alter-B giving chase. The fake Nokia ran at Amy and swung her bladed arms. Amy ducked under one then jumped away from the other. She then jumped towards the copy swinging her hammer down. The copy jumped back and when the hammer hit the ground it jumped onto it ready to swipe at Amy's head, but she jumped over the attack and used a Homing Attack knocking the copy down.

Alter-B was firing his cannon at Alter-S. Nokia's Digimon flew around the attacks then turned and drew his Garuru Sword and started deflecting blasts. Alter-B rushed at him with his own blade. Alter-S charged at him, and they brushed past each other with their blades clashing. They turned around and clashed multiple time bouncing off each other. After the tenth clash. Alter-B flew towards Alter-S ready with an overhead swing. Nokia held her right arm up and Alter-S replicated her movements. Together they paired Alter-B's sword by knocking it upward. Nokia and her Omnimon started to spin. "Supreme..." Nokia held her right arm back and her Digimon did the same. Then they swung.

"...Sword!" Alter-S's blade made a golden wave that blew Alter-B away. He then flew after it.

Meanwhile the fake Nokia spun like a top with her bladed arms coming towards Amy. Amy also started spinning with her hammer. They clashed into each other and bounced off each other with each impact. They circled around each other constantly. Then Amy stopped spinning and unleashed a cyclone with her Tornado Hammer that sent the copy flying into the air. Amy then slammed her hammer on the ground for a super jump then swung down smashing the clone into the ground.

Alter-B punched Alter-S in the gut then grabbed his leg and slammed him into the ground. Nokia yelped at the impact. Alter-B then rose back up and his cannon shot multiple red lights that rained down and exploded. He stared at the dust for a bit before turning around when Alter-S went for a diving kick from behind. Alter-B blocked it with his arms, but then Alter-S kicked with his other foot batting his opponents arms away mimicking Nokia's movements and following up as they threw a punch that sent Alter-B crashing into the ground. The fake Nokia did a diving slash, but Amy rolled under it with a somersault. They both rolled away from each other then turned around. The fake jumped at Amy who blocked her bladed arms with her hammer and pushed for a bit before Amy jumped away. The copy finished her overhead swing and was open for Amy to smack it in the head hard. It slid across the ground and scratched the floor with its arms as it came to a halt next to where Alter-B landed. Alter-S landed behind it with Nokia smirking. "How'd ya like them apples!"

Amy smiled. "Don't underestimate the strength of the heart!"

The copy growled as it stood up. "Will both of you… just… SHUT UP!" She swung her arms and red blades of light flew into Amy knocking her down as Alter-B rammed into Alter-S. Amy cried out in pain as she landed on her back and gasped when the copy of Nokia was above her. She held up her hammer, to block its bladed arms but they were slowly getting closer and closer to her.

Amy saw it even as Alter-B was pushing her and her partner away. "Omnimon, help her!" Alter-S fired a small blast from his cannon that made the clone shriek when it hit it in the back. Amy used that chance to kick it off her and get back up. Alter-S then hammered his arms into Alter-B's back knocking it off. The two Omnimon charged at each other again. The copy swung at Amy. She rolled away then tripped it with her hammer then slammed her weapon down on the fake's torso. It screamed before swinging one of her blades at Amy who backed away letting it get up. It lunged at Amy and she dodged and smacked it in the back of the head and jumped back before hearing a bang and looking up to see Alter-B dodging Alter-S's cannon blasts. "Amy!" Nokia pointed at her Omnimon's cannon then at Amy then swung her arms as if she was swinging a hammer then pointed at Alter-B.

It took a second for Amy to figure it out, but when she did she smiled. "Ah! Got it!" She grinned gripping her hammer in both hands.

Nokia smiled. "Omnimon!" Her Digimon fired again at Alter-B who dodged the shot that flew towards Amy. She knocked it back with her Piko Piko hammer and it flew into Alter-B's back.

Amy smiled proudly before she heard a roar. She looked behind her and the clone rushed at her. When she tried to block the attack, her hammer was knocked out of her hands, and she fell over. She tried to reach for her nearby hammer until the Nokia copy stomped on her arm making her yelp. "Just like how Nokia is useless on her own… without your blue boyfriend, you're nothing!" the copy grinned ready to skewer her.

Alter-S rammed into it knocking it off Amy. He landed nearby and Alter-B landed in front of him. "Maybe we are useless on our own!" Nokia said. "But when we work together with the ones we love nothing will stop us!"

"That's right!" Amy said grabbing her hammer and standing up. "Yeah!" She blew a kiss and the copy was hit by a Storming Heart stunning her. Amy charged at the copy with Pink Typhoon as its arms glowed red and came at her. They collided with pink sparks between them until Amy's hammer snapped the bladed arms. She spun repeatedly then smacked the copy in the torso. The fake Nokia screamed as it erupted with red light before disappearing. Amy then looked to her left when she heard a flare. Both Omnimon were firing from their Grey Cannons at each other. The bursts colliding showing no sign of a clear victor. Amy smirked then threw her hammer. It smacked Alter-B's arm knocking it to the side and Alter-S's cannon fire hit its target. Nokia looked at Amy in surprise. "Nokia! Omnimon! Show them what your bond can do!" Amy cheered.

Nokia grinned. "You heard her Omnimon!"

"Right!"

Omnimon Alter-S flew in front of Omnimon Alter-B bringing out his sword with his arm in the same position as Nokia's The blade glowed gold. "Supreme Sword!" the two of them shouted swinging their right arms rapidly cutting through the other Omnimon with the sword cutting it into multiple pieces. Alter-S backed up and as Nokia held her left arm forward, he did the same bringing out a large cannon that glowed red. "Transcendent Cannon!" They shot a huge red laser that engulfed Omnimon Alter-B. One by one its pieces were disintegrated until there was nothing left. Omnimon Alter-S and Nokia kept the pose a bit longer before Omnimon retracted his weapons and landed on his feet.

"You did it!" Amy smiled.

Nokia climbed down. "Thanks to you. You and Omnimon Alter-S." Nokia looked up at her Digimon.

"It is you two who granted me this power." Omnimon Alter-S replied. "And for that, you have my thanks."

"But how did you get here?!" Nokia asked looking back at Amy. "I thought to get Sonic back you Tails and Knuckles had to go back to Cyber Space!"

Amy giggled. "This IS Cyber Space silly!"

"Oh… heh, heh… right." Nokia scratched the back of her head sheepishly.

"It looks like the three of us were separated after what happened. I was wondering alone for a bit when I thought I heard your voice, so I followed it. Next thing I knew I was here and saw you getting attacked by that thing."

"I'm sure glad you came when you did." Nokia smiled before hooking down. "And… um… Thanks… for standing up for me. When that copy started saying all that stuff I… I couldn't say anything back."

"Well don't let it get to you! Maybe you have made mistakes but that's part of growing up!"

"Maybe but... She wasn't completely wrong. I'm kind of a fool. And I do charge into things without thinking. That's what led to what happened here."

"You do indeed act without thinking." Omnimon Alter-S admitted. "But I admire that quality. It means you can act without hesitation. You do not let fear hold you down."

"What he said!" Amy smiled. "It's okay if you still need to learn a few things or make mistakes. Everyone goes through things like that all the time."

"Amy..." Nokia smiled back.

"And if someone needs to help you when you make a mistake, well, that's when friends step up for you."

Nokia nodded. "You're right! Maybe I'm not much on my own! But when I have people like you, Omnimon, Takumi and everyone by my side I can make anything work out!" Amy crouched down and embraced the pink hedgehog. "Thank you, Amy!"

"Urk! Um... yeah no problem." Amy awkwardly replied with whatever air was not crushed out of her. She then saw something that made her gasp. "Hey, look!"

Nokia turned around. Someone was behind her. "What?!" She stood up. "Takumi?!" The Cyber Sleuth stood there glowing white. He stared blankly ahead. Nokia ran over to him. "Takumi, you're alright!"

The young man didn't reply. "Nokia, something isn't right." Omnimon Alter-S said.

"Huh? What do you mean? It's Takumi, isn't it?"

"He's right Nokia, something's off." Amy replied. "I mean, it seems like Takumi, but it also seems like he's not fully here."

"Perhaps this is what Mirei spoke of." Omnimon replied. "Takumi's Mental Data was scattered throughout this Cyber Space."

"Takumi..." Nokia stared at the emotionless image. "Well, if this is part of him, I'm taking him back!" She grabbed his hand then everything flashed white. "Whoa!" She Amy and Omnimon Alter-S stood there as images flashed through their minds. The quietly watched until it was over. "...Takumi...That's right…on that day he was the one who helped me when…"

Amy frowned. "Those memories must be as precious to you as they are to him... Wait, the fragment!"

Nokia gasped. The image of Takumi was gone. "W-where did it go?!" She noticed her Digivice shining. She looked at it and held it close. "Takumi... you're right here, aren't you?" A red portal opened up nearby. "Oh! Is that a way out?"

Amy walked up to it and put her hand into the gate. It phased through and came out the other side of the light. "It doesn't look like I can go."

Omnimon Alter-S touched the portal. "It would seem only we can go through here."

"What? You mean we have to leave Amy behind?" Nokia asked.

"I fear there is no other option."

Nokia looked at Amy sadly. "But..."

"Hey, it's fine." Amy replied. "I set my mind on this when I came back here to help Sonic. Besides, there are people who need you right now. Like Takumi."

"Amy..."

"Don't worry about me. Once this is all over, I know you'll get us out of here. You have the will and love to make things work out."

Nokia smiled. "You're right! I'll get Takumi back and we'll fix this mess together and bring you back to normal! Then you can express your love to the world!"

Amy nodded. "That's right!"

"Okay, I better get going. And thanks for the help, Amy."

"Happy to help!" Amy smiled. "And I'm really happy I got to meet you Omnimon! Nokia said a lot about you. She missed you dearly."

"And I missed her. Thank you for all you've done to help her Amy Rose." the knight bowed. "I swear to repay this debt by saving your world and setting you free."

Nokia and Amy waved at each other as she and Omnimon Alter-S stepped into the gate. It disappeared shortly after they went it. "Good luck Nokia, Omnimon." Amy whispered. "Show them the strength of your heart."

A nine-year-old Takumi was walking in EDEN alone during the demo event. "Wow… so this is EDEN…" He stopped. "Too bad I don't know anyone here…" When he went in, he watched all the other kids run off in groups. He was the only one alone. His mother was going to attend with him, but work made her change her schedule at the last minute. Takumi didn't say anything, but he was rather upset about it. He was alone in this large digital space. He was always used to being alone. He never knew his father. His mother was usually away. He would see babysitters more often than he would his own mother. He always had trouble making friends. He always felt alone.

Takumi heard crying. A small girl with red hair wearing a pink collared dress was crying as two kids were pushing her around. A blue headband was on the floor near her feet. "Stop it!"

"Look at her, she's crying already!"

"What a baby!"

"Leave me alone!"

Takumi watched the two boys pick on the girl. His mother did warn him not to get into any trouble during the event. Part of him said he should listen. But another part of him felt like if he ignored this, he would always regret it. Before he could put much more thought into it, his body was moving on his own and he ran over and shoved the kid pulling on the girl's hair. "Hey! Who the heck are you!?"

The girl looked up from her tears. "Huh?"

"Run!" Takumi yelled.

The girl grabbed her headband and ran away crying. The other boy behind Takumi shoved him to the floor. "Nobody asked you to get in the way!"

The boy Takumi shoved got up. "Let's teach this idiot a lesson!"

"Yeah!" The other boy lifted Takumi up by the back of his yellow t-shirt.

"Hey!" Takumi yelled as the bullies pulled his shirt upward and inside out. "Cut that out!" He tried to lower his arms and fix it but one of the kids had an arm wrapped around Takumi's armpits and neck forcing him to bend over.

"Alright tough guy, let's see how you like a good ol pink belly!"

"A whaAAAH!" Takumi didn't even finish his question before he felt a harsh slap on his bare belly. "Stop it!" he cried only to get another slap on the belly. "That hurts!"

"It should, stupid! That's what you get!"

The other bully snickered. "I got a fun idea!" His hand went into the back of Takumi's grey shorts.

"OW!" The little Takumi yelped as his underwear was pulled. "Let go of me!"

The two laughed as they continued to torture poor Takumi. They slapped his belly harder and more rapidly and pulled his underwear harder. "Hey! I think he's crying!"

"That's right, cry you big baby!"

Takumi sniffled. He thought he was doing the right thing helping that girl. And now he was suffering for his bravery. Still part of him didn't regret it once he thought about how he saved the girl from this. He cried out as the slaps to the belly got harder and his wedige worsened. "Please stop…"

"Get off of him!" Takumi couldn't see it from his shirt being lifted over his head, but two kids charged into the two bulling him. He awkwardly toppled to the floor. He could hear smacking sounds and yelling as he laid there.

Then he heard more footsteps, and two sets of hands gently helped him up from the floor. One of them pulled his shirt down. "Are you hurt?" To Takumi's right he saw a little girl with short black hair wearing a black shirt and short shorts kneeling next to him. To his left was the red-haired girl he saved.

Takumi heard crying and saw the bullies running away. There were two more kids there. One with black hair, a white collared shirt and black pants. He looked a lot like the black-haired girl. The other was a taller boy with long black hair. He wore a blue shirt and pants and a white jacket over top. "What jerks." the boy with the jacket scoffed brushing off his hands.

His friend crouched in front of Takumi. "Are you okay? Can you stand?"

Takumi slowly got up to his feet. The girls at his side helped pull him up. "Yeah…"

"Nokia told us some kids were picking on her when somebody came in and saved her." the black-haired girl explained. "We came back here as quickly as we could…"

"Did they hurt you?" the boy asked.

"N-no, not at all!" Takumi smiled trying to be brave.

"Liar, you were crying." the boy with long hair replied.

"I-I wasn't crying!"

"Hey, don't be mean to him Arata." the other boy with black hair said before looking at Takumi. "What's your name?"

"Takumi. Takumi Aiba."

"Nice to meet you Takumi. I'm Yuugo." The young Yuugo pointed at the black-haired girl. "And that's my sister, Yuuko."

"Hello." The girl smiled.

"This is Arata. And that's Nokia."

"Hi." Arata waved.

"I'm sorry." Nokia whimpered. "Those bullies did that to you because you were helping me."

"You're pretty nice to do that." Arata said.

"Me? Nice?" Takumi asked.

"Well, thanks for helping our friend." Yuugo said. "Come on guys, let's go."

Takumi quietly watched the four kids walk away. But one of them stopped. "Um…" Nokia turned around and looked at Takumi. "…Thank you for helping me. Would you like to play with us?"

"Huh?"

"Nokia, we don't know this guy." Arata said. "I thought we were going to hang out on our own away from the others."

"But I didn't see anyone with Takumi! I don't think he has anyone to play with!"

"Well then let's let him join us!" Yuuko smiled. "EDEN's supposed to be a fun place where people come together!"

"Yeah!" Yuugo nodded. "Besides, Takumi doesn't seem like a bad guy."

"Well…okay." Arata replied. "But you have to listen to me because I'm the oldest one here!"

"Um…okay." Takumi replied.

Nokia grabbed Takumi's hand. "Okay, it's settled then! Come on, let's go!" She started dragging him.

"W-wait, where are we going?" Takumi asked trying his best to keep up.

"Daddy set up a private section of EDEN for them!" Yuuko said as they all started running together. "We can have the whole place to ourselves! We were on our way there when we got separated from Nokia and… well, you know what happened."

Takumi looked at Yuuko and Yuugo. "Your dad?"

"Wait, you don't know?" Arata asked. "Yuuko and Yuugo's dad owns Kamishiro Enterprises! He made EDEN!"

Takumi's eyes widened. "He did?! For real?!"

"Yup!" Yuugo smiled proudly. "Come on, it's this way!"

After they all arrived in the little park in EDEN they all started playing. Takumi never had so much fun before. Or this kind of company. Takumi was running around with his new friends chasing him. Arata broke off from the others as Takumi started running towards the huge blocks. He turned around them and right into Arata who was waiting for him. "Gotchya!"

"Ack!" Takumi tried to run away but was grabbed the moment he turned around. Arata wrestled him to the floor.Nokia Yuugo and Yuuko caught up.

"Ha! No escape!" Nokia smiled. Yuuko sat on Takumi's flailing legs to keep them pinned to the floor while Arata held his arms down. "Now where'd you hide the ball?"

"Not telling!" Takumi replied innocently.

"Oh really?" Nokia crouched to him with a cheeky grin. "We'll see about that!" Her fingers started skittering onto Takumi's sides.

"Ah!" Takumi started giggling. "Hey! Cut it out!"

"Tell me where you hid the ball and I'll consider it!" Nokia teased speeding up her fingers.

"Never!" Takumi laughed.

"Okay~! Tickle, tickle!" Nokia smiled tickling him more. Her fingers alternated between his sides, belly and armpits. Takumi was in a laughing frenzy with his friends giggling at him.

"Wow, somebody's ticklish." Arata grinned.

"And stubborn!" Yuuko teased. "Come on Takumi, just tell us where you hid it and we'll let you go!"

"NOHOHOHOHO!" Takumi laughed.

"Wow, he IS stubborn!" Nokia grinned. "But I'm just getting started!" She gripped his shirt.

"Hey!" Takumi's shirt was lifted and turned inside out. Being pulled over his head his vision was enveloped in yellow. "I can't see!"

"Too bad for you!" Nokia teased. "Now let's see... which part of you is the most ticklish? Is iiiiiit here?" Her fingers tickled his bare tummy making him shriek. "Oooooor here?" She poked between his ribs, and he squirmed. "Or maybeeeee here?" She brushed his chest making him giggle. "How abouuuuut here?" She asked tickling the hallows of his armpits.

"Stop thahahahat!" Takumi was struggling as hard as he could, but Arata and Yuuko had him trapped. He was at Nokia's mercy. "Let me gohohoho!"

"Takumi you want us to stop?" Yuuko grinned. "You know how to make it stop."

"I won't talk!"

"If you say so!" Nokia smiled. "By the way I hear there are spiders in EDEN!"

"S-spiders?!"

"Yup! Uh oh, they're coming to get you! Coochie, coochie, coo!" Nokia set her fingers on top of Takumi's exposed skin and started skittering. Takumi broke into hysterical laughter. It didn't help that having his head trapped in his shirt made it harder to breath. Nokia giggled as her fingers danced up and down and all around him. It was like Takumi was her instrument and his laughter was the music he played. After a solid three minutes of this she decided to give Takumi a break and his body slackened as his giggling slowed down and he finally caught his breath. "Had enough yet? Gonna talk now?" Takumi didn't answer. He just kept panting. "No? Okay, you're asking for it, buster! Hey Yuuko, take his shoes off!"

"Okay!" Yuuko reached and pulled off Takumi's shoes and laid them on the floor.

"N-no wait!" Takumi's plea fell on deaf ears, and he felt Nokia's fingers tickle his feet through his socks. "I'LL TALK! I'LL TALK! I GAVE IT TO YUUGO TO HIDE!"

"Hey!" Yuugo shuddered. "You snitch!"

The others all turned to him. "Brother!" Yuuko pouted. "Where did you hide it!?"

Yuugo immediately ran. "Get him!" Arata said as he and Yuuko got off of Takumi. The two of them hurried after Yuugo.

Nokia helped the giggling/panting Takumi sit up and fixed his shirt. His face was red and stained with tears from how hard he was laughing. "Hey… is your tummy okay?" Nokia asked.

"Despite your cruel tickle torture, yeah." Takumi replied as he put his shoes back on.

"No, not that. It still looked slightly red from what those bullies did to you."

"Oh. That. It's fine, it doesn't hurt."

"Well…okay. Um, thanks again for helping me. I was kinda scared. I wish I could be brave like you…"

"M-me? Brave?" Takumi stammered. "I dunno…"

"Sure, you're brave! Can you teach me? I'm asking as a friend."

"A friend?"

"Yeah! You, me, Arata, Yuuko, Yuugo, we're all friends!"

"Friends…" The word felt so unusual in Takumi's mind.

"Come on, let's catch up to the others!"

"Yeah." Takumi stood up as Nokia chased after the others. "Friends… so this is what it feels like…"

Yuugo was holding onto a soccer ball as the others chased him. He started to tire out as they gained on him. "Just give it up, you can't run forever!" Nokia yelled.

Yuugo turned around. "Hey Arata, think fast!" He threw the ball to the oldest in the group.

Arata caught it out of reflex despite not knowing what was happening. "Huh?"

"Arata's got it!" Nokia said. "Get him!"

"Wha-AAAAAAAAAHHHH!" Before Arata knew what was happening, Yuuko, Nokia and Takumi tackled him to the ground. "Are you guys crazy?!" Arata groaned. The soccer ball rolled away from the laughing kids on top of him.

"We should never, ever stop playing here." Nokia said as they all sat up.

"Absolutely!" Yuuko nodded. "We'll always be together!"

"Oh, what fun!" Takumi smiled. "It'd be great if the present could last forever! If only the past could've lasted forever too!"

"But of course!" Yuugo nodded. "We'll always be together!"

"We should never, ever leave here!" the young Arata added. "Don't you think so?"

Takumi smiled with his new friends. "I want to stay here forever."

Then something glowed near the pole in the center of the room. "What's that?" Yuugo asked.

And then they saw how Takumi opened a hole to the Digital World. The vision ended there.

Sonic came out of the gate and collected some Keys. "If only the past and present lasted forever, huh? A nice thought but… linger too much into the past and the present will zip right by you without you knowing." Nokia appeared next to him with Omnimon Alter-S. "Oh hey. Huh, Omnimon looks a little different."

"I was granted a new power thanks to Nokia and Amy." The Digimon replied.

"Amy? Is she alright?"

"Yeah. She helped us in a battle just now." Nokia replied. "And I think I found part of Takumi's Mental Data. Amy couldn't come with us but… it's all thanks to her."

Sonic flashed a smile. "I'm sure it is. She's strong. Like you two."

"Yeah. Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses." Nokia replied looking up. "And that's all the reason why we need to find Takumi. So, he can help us with this crisis with his strengths. And I'll back him up with mine."

"You know… I saw a bunch of his memories again coming out of here."

"Really? Were they the same as the ones I saw when I found that fragment?"

"Was it Takumi meeting you guys as kids in the EDEN demo?"

"Yeah! When he saved me from those bullies."

Sonic smiled. "I wonder… I felt what he felt while going through all that. I think you guys were the ones who saved him."

"Huh?" Nokia blinked. "What are you talking about?"

"The poor guy didn't have friends before. When you guys welcomed him, it made the guy feel like people cared about him. He was so happy to have friends like that."

"Sonic's right." Sage teleported in front of them.

"Oh, it's you! Um… Sage, right?" Nokia asked.

The girl nodded. "Keisuke and I not only viewed his memories when we examined his Mental Data, we also experienced what he felt. A boy left alone, wallowing in sadness… you four provided a light for him. Even when his memories were sealed that time with you impacted his heart and made him strong. That is how he was able to make friends growing up."

Nokia smiled. "Like Ryota and Sakura."

"Correct. Even without memories of it, your encounter changed his life."

"Heh, heh! I guess that's my strength!"

Sonic looked at Sage. "You were created by Eggman, right?"

"Correct. My base code was compiled by him. The scope of my capabilities was vastly modified once I integrated with Cyber Space, but he is my creator."

Sonic smirked. "Heh, oh man. I bet he never expected his genius A.I. would advise him to work with me."

Sage glanced away. "I put forward the scenario with the highest likelihood of survival. That is all." She pointed ahead. "More importantly, it seems one of the Chaos Emeralds has been revealed."

Everyone looked at a rising blue light. "One of the gems you spoke of…" Omnimon Alter-S said.

"Yup. What Crusadermon used to cause that mess in the sky. And what we're gonna use to fix it." Sonic replied.

"We must make haste." Sage said. "Survival is dependent on us handling this task with upmost efficiency and seriousness."

Nokia smiled. "Oh, come on, don't be like that! A cute little girl like you should be cheerier and more positive!"

"I am and A.I. created by Doctor Eggman."

"So, show old Eggdad your charming side! It'll show that you're happy he made you!" Nokia grinned.

Sonic snickered. "Eggdad? I think we finally topped Baldy McNosehair."

Nokia went up to Sage and pinched her cheeks. "With a little dressing up and some nice accessories I bet you could charm the daylights out of anyone! But most important? Smile!" She stretched the corners of Sage's mouth upward in a forced smile. "Nothing makes a parent happier than seeing their little girl smile!"

"…Logging this encounter under "Uncomfortably Awkward". Retreating." Sage teleported away.

"Aw, I made her shy!" Nokia giggled. "I thought she was kind of a brat at first, but she really is just an innocent little kid deep down!"

Sonic laughed. "Alright, in all seriousness she has a point. Let's keep up the momentum. I'm off to grab that, Emerald."

Omnimon Alter-S nodded. "We shall resume our search for Takumi's Mental Data."

Sonic grinned. "Sounds like a plan! See you two around!" He ran off towards the light.

Ryuji and Chitose trudged their way through a dark area. "No…" the man leading Hudie muttered. "How could I forget…?! It was so important!"

Chitose watched his friend drop to his knees. "Ryuji…"

The man choked back a sob. "Erika…"

And this is me topping off the Character development I wanted to put Nokia through with Amy. Basically, she admits that her self-righteous path has caused suffering but learns from it. Where she acknowledges her shortcomings but still does her best. Next chapter as you can probably guess it's time to Ryuji and Chitose to take the field.