Digital Phantom Frontier

by DarkFoxKit

Takuya Kanbara was just a normal 12 year old Japanese boy, when he suddenly got a call to the Digital World. There, he meets new friends who were also called to the Digital World. They meet with some Digimon who are willing to guide them. But these Digimon seem to be hiding something from them.

23. Chapter 23: The Clock is Ticking Down

DarkFoxKit: Well, good news, we've finished writing Digital Phantom Frontier, so it's just a matter of posting them.

ZAFT: Yep! And this means season 2 is gonna be good! XD So, enjoy the remainder of DP Frontier! X3

DarkFoxKit: Just know that DP Frontier was a long and grueling road. It took us a long time to write things out, and a lot of plans had changed along the way.

ZAFT: Yeah, but we hope you enjoy what we have done. :3

---

Chapter 23: The Clock is Ticking Down

"I was hoping to not address it for a while…" Patamon sighed.

"You know we can't keep holding this off forever, bro," Lopmon pointed out.

"Are you talking about how the two of you hold Seraphimon and Cherubimon's data within you?" Labramon asked. "Oh yeah, what's up with that?"

"We just learned this ourselves, and we hadn't really thought about it since, mostly because our lives were in constant danger since the incident at Seraphimon's castle," Lopmon grumbled.

"So, what does this all mean?" Biyomon asked. "Because Digi-Eggs aren't supposed to disappear into thin air like that."

"How do you think I felt when it disappeared while I was holding it?" Patamon grumbled. "Seraphimon said there can't be two of us before he disappeared."

Lopmon sighed. "I… didn't want to tell you this, since Patamon himself wanted to tell you when he felt it was right… but considering the situation, I don't think we have that luxury now."

Lopmon made to say a name, but this caused little snowflakes to come out of his mouth. Patamon looked at Lopmon, realizing he was addressing him as who he really was, not as Patamon. "What is it?"

"Patamon… revealed something to me and Lopmon during Walker's invasion. He told us that he is Seraphimon. It's… not that you simply hold Seraphimon's data, you are Seraphimon… or well, you're in his body anyways," Lopmon explained.

Patamon stared at Lopmon for a long moment, and looked down. "I… I don't know how to feel about that… I started suspecting it might be the case when we were talking to Seraphimon, but… I just can't wrap my head around that. I mean… look at how majestic and powerful Seraphimon was, even when he wasn't at his best… it just didn't feel like someone like that would be my partner, you know?"

"Well, it's not like it's a bad thing." Kokuwamon pointed out. "I mean, Seraphimon wouldn't have chosen you as his partner if he didn't think you could handle it."

"But can I?" Patamon retorted. "I barely have a good reputation as… you know… and I am not really seen as… well… a good person by most people I know!"

"But it also makes sense." Biyomon realized. "If this world's Seraphimon's data can't exist here, then it would go to Patamon, who is Seraphimon."

"And besides, while others may see you as a menace, that doesn't mean that's who you are," Lopmon added. "You do things for the right reasons, despite what others may think."

"And… you forgave me despite what I've done to you, your brother, and friends since middle school," Labramon added. "Who would be a better partner to someone like Seraphimon than you?"

Patamon was blushing now. "Guys, please! I'm just… I just don't know how to feel about this! It's so embarrassing you keep saying all these positive things about me and how it fits that Seraphimon is my partner!"

"And besides, that also leaves the question about Lopmon," Biyomon pointed out, looking at Lopmon. "If Patamon is Seraphimon, then does that mean you're Cherubimon?"

Lopmon frowned. "I don't know. Lopmon never seemed to really believe he was Cherubimon before, nor did he show any knowledge that he was. He just seemed like any other Digimon, not really remembering his past life, and was just happy to be with me."

"True…" Biyomon conceded. "But, if that's the case, then why did Ranamon freeze up when you, or rather Lopmon, glared at her?"

"I have no idea, and telling me this isn't going to change what I just said," Lopmon sighed.

"I think the best way you're going to find out is to talk to your partners," Kokuwamon pointed out. "It's starting to get late anyway, and we did tell the others we were resting after our battle with Calmaramon. This would be the perfect time to do so."

"So we should just try to sleep, right here and right now?" Patamon asked.

"May as well." Kokuwamon replied with a sigh. "We're tired from that fight, and we need some rest."

"Besides, we're not going to reach the continent north of here by crossing the ocean at night. It's too dangerous." Biyomon added. "So we still have time."

"... Okay," Lopmon said. "Some sleep would do us some good, we've been going since the attack at Seraphimon's castle. And… it would be nice to talk to Lopmon again."

"Yeah, I agree." Patamon nodded.

"Heh, you've certainly become more mature since we got here, Patamon. I wonder if it's because of your partner," Kokuwamon chuckled.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Patamon grumbled. "Aren't I always mature?"

"Let's see… you argued with Patamon, you like to pull pranks, you play Doomed up until at least midnight… Need I go on?" Kokuwamon snickered.

"Oh, shut up…" Patamon huffed.

"But that doesn't mean you aren't mature when you need to be." Biyomon smiled.

Patamon blushed a little.

Lopmon laid down in the sand, listening to the waves of the ocean. "Then… wake us if something happens."

Patamon laid on his stomach next to Lopmon. They had been sleeping next to their human partners lately, so it had been rare for them to sleep next to each other like this.

"N'ght, Lopmon…" Patamon said as he yawned before conking out next to the other Digimon.

One of Lopmon's ears wrapped around Patamon as they fell asleep.

Biyomon couldn't help but smile at the sight of the two small Digimon sleeping next to each other. "Where's a camera when you need one?"

"I'm thinking about making some kind of small camera for Kokuwamon in the future, for things like this~" Kokuwamon grinned.

"I just hope things turn out alright…" Labramon said softly.

---

A young boy by the age of 14 opened his sky blue eyes. He found himself floating in what appeared to be a void. He was within an orange ball of light that had a strong fractal code ring around it. He knew of this place, this was the inside of his and Patamon's minds, their hearts, and perhaps even a Digi-Core. Danny's soul had been here since the transfer, and Patamon had been keeping him safe.

"Patamon?"

"I know why you're here, Danny." Patamon's voice answered back.

"Then… is it true?" Danny asked. "Are you really… Seraphimon?"

Patamon's voice sighed before speaking again. "Yes, it is." He admitted at last. "This was not the way I was hoping you would find out. Truth be told, I wanted to tell you myself, but well… circumstances took a different turn."

"Why haven't you told me before?" Danny questioned.

"I felt it wasn't necessary for you to know. And I didn't want you to feel like you were obligated to do things in the Digital World because you're partnered up with a Celestial Digimon," Patamon explained.

"But… you are a Celestial Digimon…" Danny frowned. "That holds a lot of responsibilities for the Digital World for both of us, doesn't it?"

"Perhaps, but the Digital World must also learn to stand on its own. It existed long before I did, and before Lucemon. It will be able to exist without us," Patamon stated. "And our job is to protect our worlds, not just one."

Danny hesitated. "But why me? I mean… I thought Celestial Digimon couldn't really partner up with humans."

"That's not true, we're Digimon, like any other Digimon," Patamon replied. "Though it is true that we're less likely to have partners. I wouldn't say I chose you exactly to be my partner. Remember, we didn't start off as close friends. But a bond had formed when circumstances led to us meeting and working together. A partnership links and forms naturally, it's not something that one could just choose for it to happen."

Danny chuckled. "No choice huh? I'd say you had a choice to refuse, and yet you took the choice to help me and accept me as your partner."

"I suppose so. I chose to believe in you when I had evidence that points to you ruining 3 worlds. Because I know you wouldn't be the type to do that by your own free will," Patamon answered. "Your brother also helped me see that, when we went to save you and Takuya from Freakshow and his hold on your mind. You and I aren't that different. We both want to help and save our own kind, our world, from the enemy of another world. We want justice, and we have the power to do so, and the responsibility to use such powers. Perhaps that is why we became partners, through such kinship and understanding."

Danny groaned. "What is it with people saying things that are cheesy but true? I swear, that's something my brother would have told both of us."

"Perhaps I've been influenced by both of you then," Patamon chuckled. "We're here now in order to not just save our world, but to save the people you love from their fate. It was all of us that made it possible, but it was you and your brother who made it happen in the first place. Oh, and in case you were curious about the Seraphimon egg that was made in this world, its data was stored, or perhaps… returned to my data. Because of this world's nature, that Seraphimon was actually a data sample taken from me and being used as the Seraphimon in this dream world."

"Wait, the Seraphimon we spoke to… came from you?" Danny blinked, surprised.

"In a sense, it was like a reflection… or a clone of me, a clone that was returned to where it came from when you absorbed the egg," Patamon explained.

Danny flinched, looking decidedly uncomfortable. "That's… kinda disturbing to think about… Absorbing a copy of you into me… I don't want to think about the implications of how that could be taken."

"Then don't, you silly boy," Patamon replied. "We didn't kill him if that's what you're worried about, he just simply returned to me. He's just me now. It'd be like if you split yourself up and you finally returned to being one being. I suppose it's difficult to explain since you never had such a thing happen to you before. But this is a good thing, because having Seraphimon return to me means we've unlocked something that the mastermind didn't intend. It gave us Seraphimon of this world's power, so we can use it to help break Takuya and the others out of this dream world. Though we do still need the power of Cherubimon and Ophanimon to do it safely."

Danny blinked before he grinned. "At least that's one good thing." He quipped before he looked down, his face somber. "But getting Ophanimon's and Cherubimon's power won't be so easy. We… We can't assume it will be the same as Seraphimon. We don't know where Ophanimon is, and Cherubimon is strong…"

"Well, we do know where Ophanimon is, it's just getting to her would be difficult," Patamon replied with a sigh. "We've seen where she was when we were watching where the path was taking them. She's deep in Cherubimon's castle, and unless something changes, that's where she'll be until her death in this world. I have no doubt Ophanimon would be willing to lend us her power when she knows of the situation, like Seraphimon did. Cherubimon, on the other hand… that will be an issue in it of itself, and even if we could get his cooperation, he's supposed to be the big obstacle that the Legendary Warriors face. If something happens to him, the mastermind will catch us for sure."

"Yeah, we will need to be careful about how we go about getting Cherubimon's power." Danny agreed. "We need to make sure we get it, but in a way that the mastermind doesn't know about or catch wind of."

"That'll be difficult, but you all made it this far, I have no doubt you'll find a way," Patamon said.

"Yeah… though… is Lopmon really… Cherubimon?" Danny asked. "I just can't imagine Lopmon being anything like Cherubimon."

"... Sometimes circumstances can bring the worst in all of us out," Patamon replied. "I can say that Lopmon was never truly as bad as this Cherubimon was, he seems to be a far more exaggerated evil here. But it's not impossible, if an angelic Digimon gets corrupted by darkness, they will fall hard, and become devils themselves. And Lopmon as Cherubimon in a past life truly resented humans when they invaded his kingdom and killed many Digimon."

Danny grimaced. "I can't say I blame him then… But at least he may have been more reasonable in his past life in our world."

"Yes, I agree. He acted rashly, but he had good reason to. This Cherubimon seemed to have become too power hungry for his own good, and became corrupted by it," Patamon sighed. "Though, I can say with confidence, as long as Lopmon has someone like your brother with him, he won't fall to darkness so easily. Unless your brother were to give in to his own inner demons."

---

Another boy by the age of 14 opened his emerald green eyes. He found himself floating in a void, with a chocolate brown orb around him, and a strong ring of fractal code keeping him safe.

"Lopmon?" The boy called out.

"Hello, Andy." Lopmon's voice replied. "It's been a while since we last talked."

"It's only been a day," Andy stated.

"I know, but it feels like it's been a while, okay?" Lopmon's voice grumbled. "I mean it definitely felt like a lifetime considering everything that happened with Seraphimon and all."

"Yeah, I guess it had," Andy agreed. "A lot happened. But… Lopmon, are you really Cherubimon?"

Lopmon hesitated before answering. "I don't know, Andy."

"What do you mean you don't know?" Andy asked. "Or… do you not want to tell me?"

"I really don't know. I don't remember any of my past lives if I really am a Celestial Digimon," Lopmon replied. "And… I don't want to think I am Cherubimon."

"Are you worried about being evil?" Andy questioned.

"Well, I mean yeah, being an evil tyrant like that big jerk face trying to kill us is definitely a big turn off for me," Lopmon huffed. "But even if I'm not like this Cherubimon… I don't want to be like the Cherubimon we heard about either, the one who hated humans enough to send Legendary Warriors after them…"

Andy nodded. "I can understand that. I also can't imagine you hating humans… because that'd mean you'd hate me too."

Lopmon pouted. "Exactly! I don't want to hate you! You're my partner and friend! I don't want to be that evil meanie!"

"Alright, calm down, Lopmon," Andy chuckled. "Listen… while I agree that the Cherubimon in this world is evil, I don't think the Cherubimon in our world was. It's true that he didn't like humans, but I think he had a good reason. I mean… humans not only showed up to his kingdom uninvited, they also killed the Digimon in his care. Not only that, they killed Cherubimon himself and turned his castle into their stronghold. I can't say that I blame that version of Cherubimon for becoming angry at humans for that."

Lopmon huffed. "That's true. It makes sense, and, to be honest, even I feel kinda sorry for him. It's hard to blame him for his views on humans after something like that. But still…"

"You're worried if you are Cherubimon and remember your past life, you'd start to hate me and the others, right?" Andy finished, knowing what Lopmon was thinking.

"I don't want to hate you, or our friends…" Lopmon said softly.

"Well… I don't know for sure if you are Cherubimon either. Frankly I have trouble wrapping my mind around the fact that Cherubimon of all Digimon became my partner… but… well… let's say you are Cherubimon. Do you think it would be a good idea to keep denying it?" Andy asked. "To keep… purposefully turning away from what and who you are… and keeping your memories suppressed out of fear… then that means Cherubimon can't come back, even when we need him."

Lopmon grumbled. "Who says we'll need Cherubimon's power? For all we know, that may not happen."

"And maybe you aren't even Cherubimon in the first place. You could just be someone who gained some of his data at one point," Andy proposed. "But… I think it would be a good idea, for the sake of the others, and for us… to keep an open mind about it. Lopmon, even if you are Cherubimon, and regain your memories… do you really think you'd hate me? I doubt you'd forget the bond we shared just because you remembered the past. If anything, it may help you… or Cherubimon, see not all humans are bad."

Lopmon was silent before speaking again. "You… I could never hate you, Andy… And I wouldn't forget that bond so easily. But… I still don't know if I would be hesitant to attack you or not… It's just… I'm scared…"

"It's okay to be scared," Andy said softly, reaching out and rubbing against the chocolate brown orb he was in. "I'm scared too. I'm scared of a lot of things… you saw a lot of my biggest fears with the Soul Shredder incident, but you still stuck by me. But we can't ever grow as people if we keep turning our eyes away from the truth. Maybe that's why you haven't been able to remember… because of my own fears and doubts. After all, we are linked."

Lopmon's voice chuckled. "Yeah, we are linked. And that makes sense, now that I think about it. I guess… to really remember my past, we both need to face up to our fears and doubts."

"And we know we're going to need Cherubimon's powers to break our friends out of this place safely," Andy added. "That means we'll have to face with this evil Cherubimon, and facing your dark reflection."

"Heh… like you did?" Lopmon chuckled.

"In a sense, just that this one will probably last a lot longer," Andy replied. "Either way, we'll have to do something about Cherubimon once we leave the kids."

Lopmon gave a hum of agreement. "We will. I guess I'd rather face my darker side sooner rather than later anyways. Better to get it out of the way instead of putting it off."

"Heh, glad to have you ready for it when the time comes, buddy," Andy chuckled. "Maybe it is for the better that we discovered this when we did. It would be bad if we discovered it at an inopportune time. It would hinder our ability to battle because we get distracted."

"Heh, as pragmatic as ever, huh?" Lopmon chuckled back.

"Between the two of us, one of us has to be," Andy replied. "For now, let's focus on preparing what we need to do to survive this Digital World. Then we'll worry about getting your memories back."

Lopmon gave a smug hum. "Yeah, let's kick this mastermind's butt and get our friends back."

"Couldn't agree with you more," Andy chuckled.

---

Meanwhile, at the hideout of the evil Legendary Warriors, Ranamon held up BlackGatomon in front of Duskmon. "There, I brought back your precious little kitty, are you happy now?"

BlackGatomon growled. "Do you really have to treat me like this?" She huffed, feeling very embarrassed at being held like a kitten in front of Duskmon.

"Oh, hush." Ranamon grumbled.

"Are you okay, BlackGatomon?" Duskmon asked.

"I'm fine. I actually spent some time relaxing on the beach while Ranamon was doing her own thing. They got some pretty good food at the beach house. There was nobody there, so I ransacked the place," BlackGatomon shrugged. "Did you know that the Toucanmon managed to steal the other kids' D-Tectors?"

"What's this about the D-Tectors?" Arbormon asked as he walked over to the group.

"Wait, those birdbrains actually did something smart!?" Ranamon questioned in shock as she put BlackGatomon down.

"You didn't know?" BlackGatomon asked.

"Well, I was wondering why only one of the kids turned into their Digimon forms," Ranamon admitted. "Though I didn't know it was because they were careless enough to let their… what was it again?"

"D-Tectors, it's what they call the devices they use to Spirit Evolve," BlackGatomon explained.

"Yeah, those, to let those get taken by the Toucanmon," Ranamon remarked. "Maybe I should pay a visit to those boys and give them a reward."

"Don't bother, they quit your fan club when they saw your Beast Form," BlackGatomon informed. "And, last time I checked, they were off to the Autumn Leaf Fair to sell the D-Tectors."

"What?! They quit!?" Ranamon screamed. "Why, the nerve of those bird-brains! No reward for them!" She huffed.

Duskmon rolled his eyes, his main ones on his face. "Only you would be focused on your fan-club."

Ranamon just rolled her own eyes. "Whatever, eyeballs. Selling those D-Tector things may not be a bad idea. And if we get there, maybe we could scoop those things up and claim the Spirits those brats have."

"Considering you just got clobbered by one of those brats, I'd say it's time I took a chance," Arbormon stated. "They haven't bested me yet, though I am surprised they made it out of the underwater cavern after I pretty much trapped them in there as the fractal code for the roof collapsed."

"They had a Whamon helping them, I guess you forgot to take that giant fish into account," BlackGatomon chuckled.

"I suppose I did. Grumblemon was making quite the spectacle," Arbormon remarked.

"You honestly think you could do a better job than moi?" Ranamon frowned.

"Yeah, I've been here most of the time, and I haven't fought those kiddies that often, so my own skills are pretty much a mystery to them." Arbormon chuckled. "Why not make myself useful? I also need to burn off the energy from all the burgers I eat anyway."

Ranamon huffed. "You and your burgers… I swear, you eat so many of the darn things, I'm surprised you aren't a Burgermon!"

"If I was a Burgermon…" Arbormon began before pausing. "... That may not be a bad life to have. But anyways, I'll head to the Autumn Leaf Fair, I want to see these magical devices for myself and see how they hold the Spirits."

Arbormon wouldn't mind a life of making burgers? BlackGatomon wondered. He'd be a perfect example of not letting a failing C.A.T. grade put you down then. Speaking of the C.A.T., that might be coming up soon… well, I guess I'll worry about that after this whole thing is over.

"Fine, whatever," Ranamon huffed. "I'm going to take a proper vacation now. Those rugrats really put a lot of stress on me."

BlackGatomon looked at Duskmon. "I brought some food from the beach house, want to try some? They taste better than dry jerky. Hope you like ramen, there were a lot of those. I guess we'll need to boil some water though."

Duskmon gave a smile that was visible in his eyes. "If it was as good as that restaurant you took me to, I'm willing to."

Ranamon scoffed. "And there's ol' eyeballs fawning over his kitty again."

"Oh, Ranamon, maybe you could help us boil some water, since you're the Warrior of Water." BlackGatomon grinned.

"I'm not using my powers for something as low as cooking when I have servants to do that for me," Ranamon huffed.

"Fine, then we'll just use your pool," BlackGatomon replied. "Since it's the only water source around here."

"Oh no, you are not!" Ranamon retorted angrily. "That is my space, not for cooking!"

"Then how else will we get our ramen made?" BlackGatomon said with a bit of a glint in her eyes.

Ranamon stared at BlackGatomon. "... You're even more devious than I am."

---

It was dawn of the next day. Takuya was the first one to wake up. He felt a cool breeze brush against his face, and the sound of waves. He yawned as he looked at the raft they had finished rebuilding to get to their next destination. They were all finally able to get a well deserved rest last night, and they enjoyed eating fruits and fish with the Gomamon for dinner, but now it was time to head on out if they wanted to catch up to the Toucammon.

Takuya woke up the others. They were all groggy, but ready to move on. Takuya, Patamon, Koji, Labramon, Zoe, Biyomon, JP, Kokuwamon, Tommy, and Lopmon all got onto their new raft. The Gomamon gave them a basket of fruits for them to eat along the way.

After thanking the Gomamon, and saying their goodbyes, they released the sail on their raft and set sail to the north. Tommy sat in a barrel as his only form of a lifeboat, since he still wasn't a good swimmer. The Digimon stayed closer to their human friends. They decided to take this time to chat with each other, wanting to get as much time as they could with the human children before they reach their destination.

Because before they knew it, they were reaching the continent they were looking for. The currents began to get faster, pushing the raft further. Due to the fact they were in the northern part of the Digital World, the temperature began to drop. They started to see ice around them instead of rocks and islands. The group began to get cold since none of them were dressed for the cold.

"Brr… it's getting really cold…" Zoe shivered.

"It was pretty warm back home, so none of us thought to wear anything warm before we ended up in the Digital World." Koji frowned.

"If you're cold, we can try to warm you up with our feathers and fur," Biyomon suggested.

"Uh, what about me?" Kokuwamon asked. "I'm made of metal."

"You… uh… don't lay on JP?" Labramon answered in an unsure tone. "I mean he's got some fat on him, so he can last."

"Hey! That's not nice!" JP pouted. "I'm not fat! I'm just… big boned!"

"Whatever you have to tell yourself." Kokuwamon groaned.

The Digimon, except Kokuwamon, hugged their partners to try to keep them warm. Tommy was cuddling with Lopmon inside the barrel. Lopmon wrapped his ears around the boy, helping him keep warm. Despite Tommy being the Warrior of Ice, as a human, he was still not good with the cold.

"How much further until we reach land?" Patamon asked as he was on Takuya's back.

"Not much further… At least, I hope so anyway." Takuya admitted. "I have no idea how far the continent is."

"I hope we get there soon. I don't want to be freezing out here for much longer." Zoe grumbled.

"Um… I don't think you'll have to wait much longer," Biyomon, having the keenest eyes of the group, pointed out.

The water they were sailing on soon turned to ice and snow. The winds continued to carry them further and further.

"Why aren't we stopping!?" Koji yelled out.

"Because the winds are heavy here!" Zoe called out. "The sail keeps pulling us!"

"At this rate, the raft is going to start breaking apart!" Lopmon shouted.

"Someone pull the sail down!" JP yelled.

"Wait, not yet!" Kokuwamon spoke up. "It's getting us through this quickly!"

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Labramon frowned.

"Patamon!" Takuya called. "How much further until we get to this Autumn Leaf Fair thing?"

Patamon quickly took out his book. "Um… it should be just up ahead."

"I see something up ahead, but… it looks like a giant hole!" Zoe screamed.

"Aw, c'mon!" Takuya wailed. "This is not our day!"

"Hang onto something so we don't fall off the raft!" Koji called.

Everyone braced themselves as the raft flew off of the edge of the hole, and began falling. The Digimon were trying their best to weigh their human partners down as the raft hit the snowy ground and slid down. The sail had been ripped off of the raft. But despite this, the vertical angle of the snow was still making them slide down faster and faster, the ride was also very bumpy.

"W-what is that!?" Tommy shouted as they saw a figure they were coming up on quickly.

"Is that a snowman!?" Biyomon frowned.

"It's a pretty big snowman… and we're heading right for it!" Lopmon warned.

"Everyone, brace yourselves!" Patamon exclaimed before the raft hit the large snowman, sending the raft to pieces and the group scattered all over the ground, just beyond the snow.

"That's what I was expecting…" Takuya groaned as he lay on the ground. "Who knew that snowman would break our speedy descent like that?"

"Not to mention our raft…" Patamon grumbled.

Koji sat up with a grunt, only to put a hand on the grass below him. "Hey, wait… This ground feels warm here." He noted with some confusion.

"There's… grass here…? Weren't we just on snow?" Zoe questioned, just as confused.

"Hey… look at this," Labramon said, being the first of the group to recover from the crash. She gave a smile. "There's a giant heater in this place."

"I guess that explains the warmth." JP noted before he grinned. "And it looks like we have arrived at the fair!"

Sure enough, there was a large area that looked like it was a fairground, with lots of stalls, shops, and even places to eat.

"Well, we've arrived, but now what?" Koji asked.

"Yeah, even if those Toucanmon are here, it will be like finding a needle in a haystack." Zoe noted.

Takuya gave it some thought before making his suggestion. "Maybe we should split up and look for them. We'll cover more ground that way. Patamon, what do you think?"

"I think that's a good idea. But we should all have at least a buddy in case we get attacked," Patamon suggested. "You never know who could be working for Cherubimon after all."

"Then we'll each have our own Digimon buddy, since at least you guys can still fight," JP suggested.

"So we'll just go with our usual," Kokuwamon chuckled.

"Hey, whatever works." Lopmon grinned. "It shouldn't be too hard to find the Toucanmon or the D-Tectors if we split up."

"This place is big though, so we will have a harder time regardless." Koji pointed out.

"Let's just focus on looking for them and not worry about how hard it will be," Biyomon said. "Zoe and I can probably look around in the air."

"I can try to look for their scent, but with how many scents there are here, that's going to be… nearly impossible." Labramon frowned.

"We can ask around the Digimon here, surely someone's bound to have seen them," Tommy suggested. "And if they already sold our D-Tectors, then someone must have them."

"Good idea, Tommy, we'll do that then." Takuya smiled.

And so, the group split up with their respective Digimon friends. They each looked around at different places of the fair, asking every vendor they came across if they had seen any Toucanmon or colorful devices. But so far, they haven't had any luck.

The group looked high and low. Biyomon and Zoe looked on top of the trees or building rooftops, but still couldn't find any hide nor hair of the Toucanmon.

Tommy and Lopmon just asked an Otamamon if he had seen the Toucanmon or the colorful devices.

"I haven't seen any Toucanmon or those strange devices," Otamamon apologized. "Sorry, wish I could be more helpful."

"It's alright, thanks," Tommy said before Otamamon hopped off.

Tommy sighed. "Where could they be? Did they even come here at all?"

Lopmon sighed as well. "Either the Toucanmon were smart enough to throw off our destination by giving misinformation to the Gomamon, or they're really good at hiding where they sold the D-Tectors."

"They were smart enough to trick us back at the beach house, that's how they got most of our D-Tectors in the first place," Tommy sighed. "So I wouldn't be surprised if they managed to keep where they sold the D-Tectors hidden. They should know we'd be going after them."

"I'm sure we'll find them, we can't give up hope," Lopmon said. "Maybe we're just not looking in the right places."

"But where can we look?" Tommy asked as he looked at Lopmon. "We've been searching everywhere else…"

Lopmon gave a sigh. "Well, we haven't searched everywhere. Surely there's a vendor we missed. This is a pretty big place."

"I guess…" Tommy said as he started to take a step forward before his eyes caught something, it was a sign to another shop behind an alleyway. "Hey! There's a trading post over there! I didn't see it at first, but maybe the Toucanmon stopped there?"

"Good eyes," Lopmon complimented, truth be told, he saw the trading post earlier, but a part of him wanted to keep quiet so they would have more time together, but the fabricated destiny wasn't on his side.

Tommy and Lopmon approached the door. Tommy, a little hesitantly, opened the door. "Is there anyone here?"

Tommy opened the door a little wider, seeing all sorts of electronic devices inside, such as computers, electronic fans, phones, and other such things. Tommy and Lopmon could hear what sounded like clicking and beeping noises. Tommy turned his head, seeing a strange machine-like Digimon playing on some kind of arcade.

"Um… Hello?" Tommy asked the Digimon before him.

"Yes, what? Can't you see I'm busy here?" The Digimon retorted, focusing on his work.

"That's a Datamon," Lopmon stated. "Virus type, and Ultimate level. I hear these Digimon are really good with machines, though they don't usually interact with other people. Sounds almost like Kokuwamon, but less social."

Tommy made his way over, only to see what Datamon was playing. "You're playing a game… that's being busy?"

The game showed Datamon playing as a Togemon, firing needles at a horde of Pagumon. The needles caused the Pagumon to pop into smoke. Though when the Togemon got hit, it lost a life.

Lopmon looked at the game as well, it looked like an old type of game he would sometimes see in arcades.

"Yes! It is!" Datamon answered as he was trying not to lose another life.

A big ship came into the fray, and spat some kind of laser fireballs at the Togemon, killing it and ending Datamon's game.

"Aw man!" Datamon groaned. "Now I have to start all over!"

Tommy looked excited, he had played a game like this before, it shouldn't be too hard to beat. "Why don't you let me take a shot at it?"

"You? But you're just a human child… which is actually surprising since… well, you're a human," Datamon noted.

"Yes, but video games are my specialty!" Tommy grinned.

Datamon hesitated before sighing. "Well… I've got nothing to lose. Go ahead, kid, see how far you can go."

"Thanks!" Tommy smiled as he took the joystick and the buttons.

The game started up, Tommy had the Togemon fired at the enemy Pagumon like a pro, dodging all the attacks. Datamon was impressed as he watched this child dominate the game. While this was going on, Lopmon gave a worried look, he could feel his heart beating in his chest. Even though he had that talk with his group yesterday, he still dreaded what was coming up. He could practically hear the clock ticking away in the shop, reminding him that time was quickly running out.

"Wow, you're really good! You're already passed the original high score!" Datamon complimented. "Are all humans as good as you?"

"Nope, just me!" Tommy proudly stated. "Oh look, it's the mothership!"

The ship came onto the screen, just like before. Though Tommy still had all of his lives. He had Togemon dodge and kill off the last of the Pagumon, making sure they weren't a threat, so he could focus on the mothership. Once the Pagumon were out of the way, Tommy managed to take down the mothership with little problem.

"I did it!" Tommy cheered.

"Way to go, Tommy, you're quite the gamer." Lopmon congratulated, hiding his dread.

Datamon even clapped for Tommy. Then something came on screen that caught Tommy's attention. The game announced he won a prize, and showed some kind of white ball that was glowing, making it difficult to make out.

"It looks like I won something, but what did I win?" Tommy asked curiously.

"Oh, that… It's just nothing." Datamon replied as he looked at the item on the screen as well. Datamon then pressed a button on the side of the arcade and out came a thick cartridge of sorts.

"So what are you going to do with it?" Tommy inquired. This was definitely not something he had seen an arcade have before.

"That's none of your business." Datamon replied as he leapt off his chair he had been standing on and made his way to the counter.

Tommy looked at Lopmon, wondering if Lopmon might know what was that prize. Lopmon looked back at Tommy and shrugged, even if Lopmon couldn't slow down destiny, he was certainly not going to speed up the process.

However, Tommy's question was quickly thrown out the window when Datamon opened a safe and he saw 4 very familiar looking devices sitting inside.

Tommy let out a gasp. "Our D-Tectors!"

Datamon looked back at Tommy. "These things are called D-Tectors? That's interesting."

"Please, those belong to my friends and I! Give them back!" Tommy pleaded.

"You must have a crossed transistor. These are mine, kid." Datamon replied simply.

"The Toucanmon," Lopmon spoke up, looking at Datamon.

"What about them?" Datamon asked.

"Did any Toucanmon come in and sold you those D-Tectors?" Lopmon asked.

"I can't say, customer confidentiality," Datamon shrugged. "But the bottom line is that these belong to me."

"But the Toucanmon stole our D-Tectors and sold them to you! It's the truth!" Tommy explained. "We really need those back."

"I'm sorry, but unless you have proof these are actually yours, I can't just give them to you," Datamon pointed out.

"Proof?" Tommy frowned. "Umm… why don't you give me one and I can Spirit Evolve with it."

"Nice try, kid, but if I give you one, you'll just run out the door with it," Datamon stated. "You remind me of me when I was younger."

"That says a lot…" Lopmon grumbled.

"But the Toucanmon really stole them…" Tommy frowned. "Wait, maybe if I got Zoe…"

"It might take us a while to find her," Lopmon pointed out. "By then, Datamon could sell the D-Tectors to someone else."

Tommy frowned in concern. "Then, what do we do? It's not like we can search down the Toucanmon and make them confess, is it?"

"I mean this is a trading post, maybe we should try trading something for at least one of the D-Tectors," Lopmon suggested.

Tommy frowned, he realized that he didn't bring any money with him, and he didn't exactly have a lot on him either. He only really had the clothes on him.

"Um… well…" Tommy hesitated before he took his hat off. "Maybe for this hat?"

"Tommy, isn't that hat important to you?" Lopmon asked.

"It is, but not as important as getting back the D-Tectors," Tommy replied.

Lopmon frowned.

"No sale," Datamon stated.

Tommy frowned, the only other thing he could possibly give to Datamon, without taking off his shirt or pants, were his shoes.

"What about-"

"Just forget it, Tommy, I don't think you have anything he wants," Lopmon quickly said before Tommy could take off his shoes.

Tommy groaned.

Datamon took some wires and began to plug them onto Takuya's D-Tector. He seemed to be checking for some kind of electric impulse.

"H-Hey! What are you doing to that one?!" Tommy yelped.

As if in protest to being checked, Takuya's D-Tector showed the symbol of Flame on its screen, but that was all it could do. Datamon paused for a moment when he saw the symbol, as if pondering what to make of this. But then Datamon went back to business.

"Checking to see if it works. I have to make sure they're good for the next person who buys them." Datamon replied as he took Takuya's D-Tector and put it back into the safe. He took out Tommy's D-Tector next.

When Datamon checked the electric impulse from Tommy's D-Tector, he noticed it was at half power compared to Takuya's D-Tector. Seeing this, Datamon placed Tommy's D-Tector down as his hand produced a screwdriver. He began to nudge the outer shell of the device.

"It looks like this one needs fixing," Datamon noted.

Tommy gasped at seeing this, he had never seen any D-Tector being taken apart before, so he was worried what it would do to his Spirit if such a thing were to happen. "N-no! Stop! You're going to break it!"

Lopmon, on the other hand, was more fascinated than horrified. He was always under the impression the D-Tectors were indestructible, considering they had survived many crashes and encounters with dangerous Digimon just fine.

"Stop freaking out. I can do what I want with this thing, since it's mine," Datamon stubbornly said before he popped the outer shell out.

Tommy yelped when he saw the D-Tector glowing as the outer shell was being taken off. "Please stop! You don't know what that will do!"

"Don't blow a gasket on me, kid, you're disturbing my work," Datamon grumbled as he continued to work on the D-Tector until he finally got the outer shell off completely.

Tommy gasped, while Lopmon looked on. Neither of them had seen the inside of a D-Tector before. It was something almost magical. There were complex machinery inside, but they glowed with a certain light that didn't seem all mechanical. It made Lopmon wonder if the D-Tectors were alive in their own way.

"Y-you broke it…" Tommy said in soft horror.

"No I didn't." Datamon retorted, but there was a bit of hesitation. The glowing circuitry didn't look damaged, but then again, he himself had never seen anything so complex before either. "I think I broke it…" Datamon muttered to himself.

Reaching for Takuya's D-Tector, Datamon began to pry it open as well. "Don't worry, I can fix this. I just need to open another one to see what it looks like inside as well."

"Wait! Don't break another one!" Tommy shouted. "Please!"

Datamon managed to get the outer shell from Takuya's D-Tector off, showing a similar glowing complex machinery inside.

"What's with all the water works?" Datamon asked, having trouble focusing due to Tommy's shouts.

"Listen, those D-Tectors are very important," Tommy began, trying to explain why he needed the D-Tectors back. "They hold something powerful that can only be brought out by my friends. They need that power to save the world! So please, you have to give me a chance to take the D-Tectors back after you fix them."

Lopmon looked at Tommy before sighing. "The kid's got a point. While he may not have any proof those D-Tectors belong to him and his friends, there is also no proof that they aren't. He knew the name of those devices you held, and he told you about the Digimon that sold them to you. Why would he know any of that if the D-Tectors didn't belong to him and weren't stolen by the Toucanmon in the first place?"

Datamon hesitated. The Lopmon with this kid raised a good point. This poked a few holes in the story that those Toucanmon had told him, how they had found those devices on the sandy beach washed up with no owners.

"Hmmm… You raise a good argument." Datamon conceded. "If that's true, then that means I have stolen property. And that doesn't sit well with me."

"So surely there's a compromise here," Lopmon said.

Datamon sighed as he looked at Tommy for a moment and decided on a compromise. "Okay… well, I owe you for winning the game. So I'll give you an hour to look for something to trade for them. Does that sound fair?"

"That sounds like a fair compromise." Tommy smiled in relief. "We'll be back before then!"

"Hmm. Just don't bring back something worthless. I need to make a living after all." Datamon grumbled. "And don't go telling anyone else about this, I can't have them thinking I've gone soft after all. But you only have an hour and not a minute more."

"Right, an hour, got it!" Tommy said with determination.

"Well, actually it's more like 58 minutes now," Datamon pointed out.

"Then we better hurry, come on, Lopmon!" Tommy quickly said.

Tommy hurried out and Lopmon ran after him. Though Lopmon stopped at the doorway and looked back at Datamon, who was now looking at the two D-Tectors he opened up.

"Okay, now I just have to figure out what this one is missing," Datamon muttered.

Lopmon frowned a little, wondering if he had to leave before or after Tommy Beast Spirit evolved. Lopmon gave a small sigh before he ran out the door.

"Lopmon, hurry up!" Tommy spoke up before he picked up Lopmon. "Come on, we don't have much time!"

Tommy ran across the town while holding Lopmon. "Where is everyone?"

"This town is big, they're probably off in some building asking around for the D-Tectors or the Toucanmon," Lopmon explained.

"Great, we may not have enough time to find them!" Tommy frowned. "But how are we going to find something worth trading the D-Tectors for?"

"Let's try looking outside of the town, there might be something out there we could find," Lopmon suggested. "Though it's going to get cold."

"Yeah, we can't stay out in the cold for too long." Tommy agreed. "Aw man… Why did mine and Takuya's D-Tectors have to get stolen? Kumamon could handle the cold easily while Agunimon would be able to use his fire to keep me warm."

"But at the same time, we don't have any money or anything to trade with, so staying here isn't going to help us," Lopmon pointed out.

"Good point… do you think there's something out there we could trade for our D-Tectors? It's just a bunch of snow and ice, isn't it?" Tommy asked.

"Who knows? You might find something you can use," Lopmon answered. "We might as well take a look."

"Right," Tommy agreed as he began hurrying to the edge of town.

Biyomon was in the tree. "Can't believe Zoe decided to take that stupid eating contest… but then, I guess that's her predetermined destiny at this point in time…"

Then Biyomon noticed Tommy running to the edge of town. "Oh, it's Tommy. Has he… already found the D-Tectors?"

Biyomon frowned at the thought. If he did, then… they had less time than they thought. Despite there not being any clocks nearby, Biyomon could hear time ticking. "I should… go back to Zoe."

Meanwhile, Takuya, Patamon, Koji, and Labramon met up with each other at a crossroad.

"Any luck?" Takuya asked Koji.

"No." Koji replied. "I think those dumb bird brains traded away our D-Tectors to someone." He added as he punched a fist into his other hand.

"We can't quit." Patamon said. "I'm sure the D-Tectors are somewhere."

"But we've looked everywhere we possibly could." Labramon noted worriedly.

"Maybe not everywhere. It's easy to miss the nooks and crannies in a town like this," Patamon pointed out.

"But where else can we look?" Takuya asked.

Suddenly, the group saw a crowd gathering at a restaurant. They heard JP's voice groaning. "Another… plate."

"Was that… JP?" Koji asked.

"I smell… food… lots of food," Labramon drooled.

"We have to see what's going on, and why JP isn't searching for the D-Tectors." Koji grumbled.

The two boys and their Digimon friends managed to squeeze through the crowd of Digimon gathered, only to see JP sitting in the middle of a stack of plates, looking quite stuffed. Off to the side of him, Kokuwamon was shaking his head in disbelief.

"Even I can't believe you're able to eat this much. I wonder if your stomach had expanded after being exposed to Beetlemon for so long," Kokuwamon remarked.

But despite this, JP was far behind. He groaned as he felt like his stomach was about to burst. "Ugh… I'm finished… I can't eat anymore…"

JP leaned back against his chair and let out a burp. Koji and Takuya ran over to JP while Labramon and Patamon went over to Kokuwamon.

"Any update?" Patamon asked.

"On the D-Tectors? No," Kokuwamon shook his head.

"So we may still have some time left," Labramon sighed in relief.

"JP, what are you doing?!" Koji questioned in annoyance that JP was making a pig of himself when they needed to be looking for their D-Tectors.

"Well, I thought the Toucanmon came in here, and it turns out they did, but then I saw that sign." JP admitted as he pointed at a sign nearby.

"'Eat 30 plates and win an amazing prize'?" Takuya read before he looked back at JP. "Oh brother. Listen buddy, you and Kokuwamon were supposed to be looking for the D-Tectors, not stuffing your face!"

"Yeah, but finding stuff is hard work and I had to keep my strength up." JP grinned sheepishly. "Plus, I thought the Toucanmon might have left the D-Tectors as the prize."

"Or rather, Zoe thought that, and JP joined in to try and win the D-Tectors." Kokuwamon added.

"Zoe's here too?" Takuya asked.

As if on cue, Biyomon came flying in, and they heard Zoe's voice shouting. "MORE FOOD!"

They quickly turned their attention to the other table. Biyomon landed next to Zoe as Zoe was stuffing herself with a plateful of food. She already had piles of plates stacked around her, and she wasn't slowing down. The Digimon that were watching her were in awe at her rapid eating skills.

"Zoe ate all of that!?" Takuya exclaimed in disbelief. "Where does she put it all?!"

"Well, she is a growing girl." Koji admitted, looking just as disbelieving as Takuya.

"Zoe… your feats scare me," Biyomon said as she began taking a plate of her own to eat. If we're going to be separated soon, I might as well fill up on food. Who knows when we'll get to eat after this?

"It could be that she still has her Spirits," Patamon theorized. "So she's able to have the appetite of two Digimon, her Human and Beast Spirits."

"Does it work like that?" Takuya questioned.

"I… don't really know. It's the best theory I could come up with," Patamon shrugged. "Hey, JP, mind if we joined in?"

"Oh, c'mon! Really, Patamon?!" Takuya exclaimed.

JP grinned. "Sure! The more the merrier!"

"I agree with them," Labramon said.

"What? Why?" Koji asked.

"We don't know when we'll eat again, so it's best to fill up when we can," Labramon answered.

Koji grumbled, not really seeing any other way to get out of it. "Alright, fine… But this had better not backfire on us."

Meanwhile, Tommy and Lopmon were climbing up the snow.

"I'm not sure if we'll find anything out here." Tommy frowned. "Maybe we should try something else. What do you think, Lopmon?"

Lopmon didn't give an answer.

"Lopmon?" Tommy asked.

"Huh? Oh… uh… let's not give up yet," Lopmon replied, sounding distracted.

Tommy frowned as he slowed down. "Is everything okay? You've been kind of distracted. I know the D-Tectors are important, but… I don't think that's what you're thinking about."

Lopmon looked down. "I… just have a lot on my mind."

"Do you want to talk about it?" Tommy asked in concern.

Lopmon considered it for a moment. He didn't know when, but he knew it would be soon, that he would have to leave. For all he knew, this could be his last chance to really talk to Tommy alone.

"We've been through a lot since we've met, haven't we?" Lopmon said softly. "I know things look pretty bad now, but when you get your D-Tectors back… you're the only one left who doesn't have his Beast Spirit. Do you think you might be fine without it though?"

Tommy looked down in thought. He never thought about it before. "To be honest, I don't know…" Tommy admitted. "I get the feeling I would be, but at the same time, it feels like I would be the one holding the others back if I didn't have it."

It's too late to stop the course anyways. Lopmon sighed to himself. Datamon's probably already putting that Beast Spirit into Tommy's D-Tector as we speak.

"Is that what's been bothering you? Are you worried about me not having my Beast Spirit?" Tommy asked.

"No," Lopmon said. "I'm just… well… How do I put this? … With you guys getting your Beast Spirits, learning to control them and getting stronger together… I think that we… the Digimon, will just be getting in your way. You guys don't really need us to help you anymore."

Tommy furrowed his eyes in confusion. "Lopmon… you would never get in our way. If anything, you were the ones who saved us on multiple occasions."

"But it's about time you guys stood on your own," Lopmon stated firmly as he looked at Tommy, the winds blowing his ears a little. "What if… what if one day we… disappear? Would you be able to keep going and continue your way to Cherubimon's castle?"

Tommy frowned at the question. "Why would-"

"Please answer the question," Lopmon said, stopping Tommy from asking.

"I… I don't know. You guys have been helping us this whole time… we wouldn't want to go through all of this without you," Tommy answered.

"... There may be times where you'll have to make a tough choice, Tommy. This isn't a game after all, this is a real war here. You and the others are chosen by the Legendary Warriors, so you'll have to start making hard decisions if you want to win this war," Lopmon pointed out. "Even if it means leaving behind your friends in order to continue on."

Tommy looked down, suddenly feeling uncomfortable with what he was being told. "That's true… but… I don't want to lose my friends either… which includes you guys…"

Lopmon gave a sigh. "I know you don't… and we don't want to lose you either. But the fact of the matter is… you guys are Legendary Warriors, and we are not. There… there may come a time when we can't be with you anymore."

"Why not?" Tommy frowned. "Is it because you're not Legendary Warriors? That shouldn't mean anything. Just because you aren't doesn't mean you can't still come with us and help us fight Cherubimon. That's what you guys have been doing so far, why should that change?"

"There are some things that are out of our control," Lopmon said softly before he looked up at Tommy. "But… I will say that even… even if that time comes, we won't stop helping you. We already made a promise to help you guys any way we can. But you also need to be able to stay strong yourselves, and… not lose yourselves to the darkness."

Tommy didn't like the way Lopmon was talking. "That's true, but we've only gotten this far because of you guys helping us. What are you trying to say? That we will be separated soon?"

Lopmon looked at Tommy for a moment before looking away. "What I'm trying to say is that if we are separated, I want you to remain strong, and to not fall into darkness. It may sound like cheesy, tired advice, but it's a lot harder to carry out than you think. I don't want you or the others to fall into despair or darkness if something were to happen to us."

"We won't, Lopmon," Tommy said, hoping to ease Lopmon's worries. "We'll keep fighting, like we always do. So… don't worry so much about us, okay? You know… you and the other Digimon have been acting weird since we came out of TV Forest. It… feels like you're all worried about something. And it's gotten a lot worse lately. What is it that you're not telling us?"

If I could tell you, I would've a long time ago… Lopmon sighed. "Don't worry about it. It'll be… over soon."

Tommy frowned, and was about to ask Lopmon what he meant, when he and Lopmon reached the top of the snowy crater. They came face to face with two familiar Toucnamon, one of them was holding some kind of wooden camera.

The foursome blinked at one another before the Toucanmon freaked out and started to run away.

"Hey! Wait up!" Tommy shouted as he chased after the Toucanmon. Lopmon was right behind Tommy, struggling to keep pace with the running human.

"No way!" The Toucanmon shouted.

"Come back! I just wanted to know what you traded for our D-Tectors!" Tommy shouted.

"Come on, guys! Stop running!" Lopmon yelled.

"When I catch you-" Tommy began when one of the Toucanmon laughed.

"You'll never catch us!"

Then suddenly, the ice cracked under the Toucanmon, they didn't realize they had been running over frozen water. The Toucanmon's weight was enough to break the ice, causing the two of them to fall into the ice cold water. The Toucanmon that had been holding the wooden camera dropped it on the snow as he and the other Toucanmon struggled in the water.

Tommy and Lopmon looked at the camera and ran over to it. Lopmon noticed the camera was activated, and they were likely being recorded right now.

"What is that?" Tommy asked, having never seen such an old looking camera before.

"They didn't have it before, so they likely traded the D-Tectors away for that," Lopmon pointed out.

Tommy bent down and picked up the wooden camera. "Is that so? Well in that case, this is perfect! We can use this to get our D-Tectors back!"

"W-Wait! Y-You can't just leave us here!" One of the Toucanmon wailed. The two Toucanmon were struggling to stay afloat, but it wasn't going so well.

Tommy frowned. "You guys stole our stuff, so you're just getting what you deserve!"

"P-please forgive us!" The other Toucanmon begged.

"I don't want to get reborn!" The first Toucanmon shouted.

Lopmon looked at Tommy, who was looking back at the Toucanmon. "Do you want to help them?"

Tommy sighed. "... We… we can't just leave them like that… Come on, help me get them out."

Tommy put the wooden camera down before he and Lopmon hurried over to the Toucanmon. "One of you grab my hand!"

"The other grab my ear!" Lopmon shouted as he and Tommy held out their ear and hand.

One of the Toucanmon managed to grab onto Tommy's hand, and he pulled him out. The other Toucanmon managed to grab onto Lopmon's ear. Despite being small, Lopmon was strong enough to pull the Toucanmon out of the water.

"We should get you guys somewhere warm before the water freezes on your body," Lopmon warned.

"T-Thanks…" The first Toucanmon rasped out, shivering badly.

"We better get the camera and skedaddle!" The second Toucanmon quickly said as he grabbed the camera.

"W-wait! Why? We just saved your lives!" Tommy frowned.

"So what?" The Toucanmon replied before they started running.

Lopmon sighed before he ran forward and jumped, using his ears to ride the air and glide to the Toucanmon. He then dropped down, tackling the Toucanmon that had the camera down. "You know, if you keep running like that, you'll become frozen solid in no time at all. Is that what you want?"

"N-No!" The Toucanmon that Lopmon had tackled protested. "Please! We won't run! We promise!"

"Maybe this is just as well," The first Toucanmon sighed. "We have done some pretty bad things… and for what? We already quit the Ranamon fan club."

"If you quit the Ranamon fan club, why didn't you just give back the D-Tectors?" Lopmon asked.

"Because we worked hard to get those things, we couldn't just give them back!" The second Toucanmon snapped.

"Despite knowing you'll be hunted down by the owners of those devices?" Lopmon frowned. "Or did you not think that through? Did you even realize what kind of devices you guys stole?"

"Of course we know! Those devices were important to you humans, so we took them!" The second Toucanmon replied. "We heard they contained some kind of Beast Spirit, and we knew Ranamon wanted a Beast Spirit."

"That's why you took them?" Lopmon asked.

"Well, yeah, we wanted to please Ranamon," The first Toucanmon answered. "Well, not anymore though."

"So you just sold them?" Tommy frowned as he caught up to them. "Those D-Tectors you stole… they held our Spirits! The Spirits of the Legendary Warriors! Without those, we can't defend ourselves or fight against Cherubimon!"

The first Toucanmon seemed to have a terrified look come across his face while the second Toucanmon looked decidedly uneasy. "O-Oh… W-We didn't realize!" The first Toucanmon whimpered.

"Yeah, we just thought those D-Tector things held a Beast Spirit for Ranamon!" The second Toucanmon added.

"They held Beast Spirits alright, just not for Ranamon," Lopmon sighed.

"They really held Legendary Warriors' Spirits?" The first Toucanmon frowned.

"Yeah…" Tommy sighed. "We've been using those Spirits to fight against Cherubimon and his minions, trying to purify the corruption he left on the Digital World and the Digimon themselves."

"I get the feeling the reason why Ranamon's Beast Spirit turned out so ugly is because she's also corrupted by Cherubimon," Lopmon said. "When a Digimon is corrupted, they can't digivolve properly, and instead, they become something much darker, and in some cases, ugly."

"She was ugly alright." The second Toucanmon grumbled.

"We're sorry! We wouldn't have taken those D-Tectors of yours if we had known they were the only thing that could save our world!" The first Toucanmon apologized.

Tommy and Lopmon looked at each other for a moment before nodding. It would seem the Toucanmon weren't bad Digimon, they had just been misguided by Ranamon.

"If you help us get our D-Tectors back, we'll let bygones be bygones, does that sound fair?" Tommy asked.

"Yes! And we won't pull anymore stunts like we did to you! We promise!" The two Toucanmon said as one.

"That's good." Lopmon smiled. "Then let's get this camera back to Datamon together. You two might wanna get back into town anyway, the water's starting to freeze."

"G-good idea!" The Toucanmon realized as the water on their fur was getting colder and stiffer.

The Toucanmon, Lopmon, and Tommy began making their way back to the Autumn Leaf Fair.

"So… out of curiosity, why did you trade our D-Tectors for that… camera?" Tommy asked.

"This bird-brain here thought it would be a fun novelty item and it was unique." The first Toucanmon grumbled as he looked at his companion.

"Hey! I've never seen a wooden camera before!" The second Toucanmon retorted. "And who are you calling a bird-brain? You're the same species as me! Aren't you also insulting yourself?"

"I can call you a bird-brain without insulting myself. Because I'm actually smart," The first Toucanmon stated. "All you ever think about is Ranamon and food."

"Not anymore!" The second Toucanmon shouted.

"My mistake, now all you think about is food and junk," The first Toucanmon reiterated.

"That's not funny!" The second Toucanmon pouted. "That's downright mean!"

"Hey, you started it with selling those things for that camera." The first Toucanmon retorted.

"Hey! Let's not argue about this!" Tommy spoke up. "What's done is done, and we have about 15 minutes to get back!"

"Why 15 minutes?" The first Toucanmon asked.

"Datamon gave us a deadline to how long he'll hold the D-Tectors for us," Lopmon answered. "That's why we needed you guys to bring the camera."

"Oh! So you can get the D-Tectors back!" The first Toucanmon realized. "I see! So you want us to trade the camera back for them."

"Aw man! Now I won't have my unique camera!" The second Toucanmon groaned.

"It's better than those kids being left without those Spirits of theirs." The first Toucanmon retorted, giving his friend a slight smack upside the head. "We can find other unique cameras."

"Fine, fine, I get it," The second Toucanmon grumbled. "By the way… is one of your friends that Kazemon we saw fighting with Ranamon before?"

"Yeah? She's Zoe, the one you weren't able to take the D-Tector from," Tommy answered.

"Hey, how were we supposed to know she was still changing when we snuck into the locker room?" The second Toucanmon exclaimed. "Her scream scared us away!"

Lopmon snorted as he covered his mouth. "So you guys were the 'peeping tom'."

"Well, in a way, that saved her from having us steal her D-Tector." The first Toucanmon noted. "Although I didn't think a human girl could scream so loud…"

"Yeah… yeah they could…" Tommy sweatdropped.

"She's pretty cute though. Is her Beast Spirit ugly?" The second Toucanmon asked.

"Pipe down! That's not something you just casually ask someone!" The first Toucanmon snapped.

"She's really pretty, at least I thought so," Tommy answered. "And she saved us from Ranamon when we were trying to get to you guys."

"She's both pretty, kind, and strong? Now that's a girl we would form a fan club for!" The second Toucanmon said dreamily.

"But you don't really know her. Just like how you guys didn't really know Ranamon," Lopmon pointed out. "She only used you guys to get what she wanted, and that was it."

The Toucanmon both groaned at hearing that.

"But Zoe is kind, so she'd be a better person for your fan club than Ranamon." Tommy smiled.

"Yeah… and you know what? You're kind too, you saved us from that ice water," The first Toucanmon remarked.

Tommy blushed a little. Lopmon smiled, seeing how they were getting along.

But good things couldn't last forever. A shadow towered over them suddenly. Tommy, Lopmon, and the two Toucanmon gasped when they saw someone standing over them.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here? I guess you brats really didn't sink with the fishes after all."

"Arbormon! What… what are you doing here?" Tommy gasped as he pushed the Toucanmon back a little.

"I merely came here to see if what Ranamon said was true." Arbormon replied. "And it seems she was right; you are defenseless without those D-Tector things. You'd have evolved already if you still had them."

"So what are you going to do? Are you really going to kill a defenseless kid?" Lopmon hissed, getting in front of Tommy.

"No, that would be too easy," Arbormon replied. "He would be much more valuable to be used as a lure for the other children I want to trap."

"Like I'd let you," Tommy tried to sound more brave than he actually felt, though he was shaking a little.

"Oh? And how do you plan to stop me?" Arbormon chuckled sinisterly. "You have only two Toucanmon and a mere Lopmon to help protect you."

The two Toucanmon were shaking in fear, though to their credit, they didn't try to run away.

This wasn't supposed to happen. Lopmon frowned. If things start falling apart now, we could be in deep trouble.

"I'll be sure to show you I'm more than just a Lopmon," Lopmon hissed.

Lopmon jumped and began spinning around. "Tiny Twister!"

Lopmon swung himself at Arbormon, slapping him in the face repeatedly with his ears.

Arbormon was caught off guard by the sudden assault from Lopmon. "Ow! Hey! That hurts! Ow!"

"Lopmon! Be careful!" Tommy cried in alarm, surprised at Lopmon's sudden attack on Arbormon. However, that also confused Tommy. Why did Lopmon just start attacking Arbormon? Lopmon is normally more cautious and careful…

"Knock it off!" Arbormon shouted as he punched the little tornado away.

Lopmon stopped spinning and hit the ground.

Lopmon quickly got back on his feet. "Blazing Ice!"

Lopmon fired out an icy wind at Arbormon, though Arbormon was able to power through the attack.

"Roundhouse Punt!" Arbormon detached his foot with a long string at Lopmon.

Lopmon was hit, and Tommy ran up to catch him, though the force knocked Tommy to the ground as well. The two Toucanmon watched in horror at this.

"Now, enough distractions, I need to get you on display for the others," Arbormon stated.

The Toucanmon suddenly ran in front of Tommy and Lopmon.

"W-wait a minute!" The first Toucanmon shouted. "W-wouldn't you like something better than some powerless human children?"

"Y-yeah, like… the D-Tectors they use to power up?" The second Toucanmon added.

Arbormon looked down at the Toucanmon. "I'm listening."

"We traded the D-Tectors for this camera… if you take it back to Datamon, I'm sure he'll give you those D-Tectors," The second Toucanmon explained, holding out the camera. "And you won't have to hurt the children."

"What are you doing?" Tommy frowned.

"What do you think?" The first Toucanmon hissed in a low whisper to Tommy. "Saving your butts!"

"I like this," Arbormon said as he picked up the wooden camera. "If you're not lying, then I can get all the Legendary Warriors to Cherubimon."

"Y-yeah, go for it," The first Toucanmon quickly said.

"Not so fast. To make sure you two aren't lying, I'll be taking you with me," Arbormon explained. "Blockade Seed!"

Arbormon shot out a couple of seeds that landed on the two Toucanmon. The seeds immediately sprouted into vines and bound the two Toucanmon up.

"H-Hey! Stop it!" The first Toucanmon wailed. "Is this really necessary?!"

"Can't take any chances." Arbormon replied with a dark chuckle.

"Stop it! Leave them alone!" Tommy shouted.

"Don't take them away…" Lopmon weakly said.

"You two should be thanking me for being merciful," Arbormon sneered. "After all, if you're not a threat to Cherubimon's goals, then I have no reason to dirty my hands with your blood and data."

Arbormon dragged the Toucanmon while holding the wooden camera back towards the Autumn Leaf Fair. Tommy stood up, holding Lopmon, trying to go after him, but Tommy was a little hurt from when he caught Lopmon earlier.

"Don't push yourself…" Lopmon said in concern.

"But… we can't just let him go… we'll lose our D-Tectors forever! And who knows what he'll do to the Toucanmon…" Tommy frowned. "Why am I so weak…?"

Lopmon looked up at Tommy. "You're not weak… Come on, Tommy, get up. It's not over yet. We can still make it back."

Tommy hissed a little as he pushed to stand back up, still carrying Lopmon through the snow, and started trudging back to the Autumn Leaf Fair.

Meanwhile, Takuya and Koji were looking for Tommy and Lopmon, using Labramon's nose.

"Where could they be?" Takuya frowned in worry.

Patamon had been flying around to scout the town.

"It smells like they were going up the snow," Labramon said as she looked up at the wall of snow.

"Then we should follow the trail." Koji suggested. "They can't be too far out of town."

"I hope Tommy and Lopmon are okay though…" Takuya added, worried about the younger boy.

"Why would they leave town though? All by themselves no less…" Koji frowned. "Did they think someone had our D-Tectors outside of town?"

Patamon suddenly flew down to them. "I see them!"

Takuya and Koji's gazes snapped ahead of them. Sure enough, Tommy was making his way towards the Autumn Leaf Fair with Lopmon in his arms. The younger boy looked upset about something as well.

"Tommy! Lopmon!" Takuya called out, he was relieved to see they were safe, but neither of them looked okay.

Takuya ran towards them. Tommy looked up, seeing Takuya coming to them. Without hesitation, Tommy ran toward Takuya. The boy tripped a little on his way to Takuya, but Takuya managed to catch him. Tommy hugged Takuya, careful not to crush Lopmon. There were tears in the boy's eyes. Something must've happened.

"Hey, what's the matter?" Takuya asked in concern. He wasn't used to seeing Tommy cry, as the younger boy had gotten better about handling things more maturely. It was clear Tommy was in no shape to explain what had happened at the moment, with the fact he was crying loudly now.

Lopmon looked up at Takuya. "We need to get back to Autumn Leaf Fair."

"Huh? Why?" Takuya asked.

"It's pretty cold here, it should be obvious to why," Patamon grumbled.

"It's more dire than that," Lopmon said. "We found the D-Tectors."

Meanwhile, Datamon just finished transferring the data into the D-Tector that had been missing half of its power. "That's it, beautiful."

Datamon then put the outer shell back onto the D-Tector, making it as good as new. "There, now they're all equal."

Datamon looked up at the wall clock. "Hmm, kid's got about 10 more minutes. I actually hope he makes it."

Suddenly, someone knocked down his door. "Knock knock."

"Hey! Why'd you knock down my door?" Datamon asked in annoyance.

Datamon turned around, only to freeze when he saw who was in the doorway. "A-Arbormon?!"

"I said 'Knock, knock', didn't I?" Arbormon retorted. "Anyways, I'm here for business."

Arbormon had a bag with him, and he opened it to dump out two, tied up Toucanmon along with the wooden camera.

"You got something these bird-brains traded, at least according to them, and I want it," Arbormon stated before he held out his hand.

Datamon took another glance at the wall clock, the kid still had 8 minutes left.

"Hey! I'm talking to you!" Arbormon shouted, getting Datamon's attention back to him. "Take this thing back, and give me the other things. Or were these bird-brains lying about trading with you?"

The Toucanmon looked quite terrified. Datamon looked at them before he looked at Arbormon. "Maybe they did, but first I need to check out the goods."

"Yeah, well, you better be quick about it," Arbormon grumbled as Datamon picked up the wooden camera.

Datamon checked the camera before he noticed something the camera had recorded. He saw Tommy and Lopmon helping the Toucanmon out of an icy cold water when they could've easily left them behind to give the camera to Datamon. Then he saw them talking to the Toucanmon, and they seemed to be getting along, until Arbormon showed up and roughed them all up.

Seeing this, Datamon realized Tommy and Lopmon were actually good people, and seemed to have been honest. If they just wanted the D-Tectors, they would've just taken the camera back to him without helping the Toucanmon, or even befriending them. And he did promise Tommy an hour, which still wasn't up yet.

"Well, sorry, but those things are being held for someone else." Datamon replied. He didn't like to fight, and wanted to avoid it, but if this big guy wouldn't take 'no' for an answer, he would fight if he had to.

"What? What do you mean?" Arbormon frowned.

"I have another customer wanting those things," Datamon answered.

"Hand them over or you'll never have another customer!" Arbormon threatened as fractal code surrounded him. "Arbormon slide evolution! Petaldramon!"

As Takuya, Koji, Tommy, and their Digimon were coming back to the Autumn Leaf Fair, trying to figure out what they were going to do, they heard a loud noise that sounded like a building being torn apart. Seeing that something was happening, the group quickly rushed to the noise.

The foursome saw what looked like a destroyed shop, and in the center of it all was a familiar Legendary Warrior they had fought before.

"Oh great… It's Arbormon!" Takuya growled out. "But what's he doing in his Beast Form? And in that shop no less?"

"I don't know, but we need to check it out." Koji said seriously. "There must be a reason he is at that shop."

Tommy's eyes went wide as he recognized where the shop was. "Oh no! That's Datamon's shop!"

Without further explanation, Tommy and Lopmon rushed ahead. Takuya, Koji, Patamon, and Labramon hurried after them.

The group arrived in time to see Datamon getting knocked back by a Leaf Cyclone attack from Petaldramon.

"Stop it, Petaldramon!" Patamon shouted.

Petaldramon turned around, looking at the group. Koji and Takuya picked up a broken pipe, and a broken wooden staff. They didn't have their D-Tectors, but that didn't mean they weren't going to find some way to fight back. Petaldramon grinned when he saw the children.

"Oh this is going to be good~" Petaldramon grinned.

Labramon and Patamon growled as they readied themselves for a battle.

Tommy and Lopmon hurried over to the Toucanmon and Datamon. Lopmon bit down on the vines that bound the two Toucanmon, releasing them.

"Are you okay?" Lopmon asked.

"Thanks… we're alright," The first Toucanmon answered.

"But wow, Arbormon sure is a jerk, tearing down an entire shop because he didn't get what he wanted…" The second Toucanmon grumbled. "I thought we were gonna die."

"At least you're okay." Tommy sighed in relief. "And… thanks for saving me and Lopmon back there."

"You saved us… so it was only fair we returned the favor," The first Toucanmon said. "Though… we do apologize for taking those D-Tectors of yours in the first place. We… really had no idea how important they were."

"We were blinded by love for Ranamon…" The second Toucanmon admitted. "We didn't know how evil she and the other Digimon she was working with were until now…"

"It's you two…" Datamon groaned when he woke up from being attacked.

"Hey, you're okay," Tommy noted in relief before sighing. "I'm sorry about what happened to your shop, and… we couldn't find anything to trade."

Looking at Tommy, Datamon chuckled. "You did just fine kid… Let me ask you… Have you ever heard the expression that truth is the greatest treasure?"

"No… at least, not in that way," Tommy admitted, surprised.

Petaldramon leaned down at Takuya and Koji, but Patamon and Labramon jumped at Petaldramon's head, both of them biting down as hard as they could. Petaldramon hissed as Takuya and Koji ran at the big plant monster and slammed their weapons down on him.

Labramon jumped down at Koji's side. "Hey, Koji… no matter what happens… I promise I'll keep helping you… you know that, right?"

Koji gave a smirk. "Yeah, I know. And I appreciate it."

"You, and the others, helped me change," Labramon said. "I wasn't proud of myself before, and I always felt angry, so I lashed out at others. But ever since I started making friends with those I thought were weak and losers, I actually feel happy… and proud of myself. I take it you feel the same way?"

Labramon and Koji jumped back, avoiding the tails from Petaldramon.

Koji didn't know why Labramon was choosing now to say these things, but it was encouraging him at least.

"Yeah, I do." He replied. "It's just odd you choose now of all times to say these things."

Labramon gave a small smile. "Maybe I'm just feeling a little sentimental right now."

Patamon flew up at Petaldramon's eye and expanded himself. "Boom Bubble!"

Patamon spat out a large air bubble at Petaldramon's eye, making him hiss in pain and flail around. Patamon flew down at Takuya's side.

"You're quite stubborn and a hothead, you know that, right?" Patamon said.

"Oh, jee thanks," Takuya grumbled.

"But that's why the others look to you as a leader," Patamon said. "Your fiery determination, and your kind heart, keeps them from losing hope, even when things look bleak. I understand now why I can be like that at times, always making joking one-liners during battle and such. You're a tough guy and hard to take down… I hope you remember that about yourself, Takuya."

"Wow, sentimental much?" Takuya joked. "This is quite the time to be reminiscing, huh?"

"What are you talking about? Any time is good to reminisce when you're feeling nostalgic," Patamon chuckled as he and Takuya dodged Petaldramon's claws as he flailed around. "I mean when was the last time I got to fight alongside you when you're just a human?"

"True." Takuya conceded. "That was so long ago, I barely remember it, and that was… I think before I got Agunimon's Spirit?"

"Back when we were on the run from Cerberumon," Patamon said before he took out the book. "When Bokomon gave me this book, he intended it to be used as a guide for you. It might be best for you to start reading it yourself."

Patamon tossed the book to Takuya, surprising him.

"Just don't use it as a shield," Patamon chuckled.

"Uh… okay…?" Takuya blinked as he caught the book. "But why? Why give this to me now?"

Patamon gave Takuya a small smile before turning his attention back to Petaldramon. Petaldramon roared angrily, Takuya didn't have time to wait for an answer, he put the book under his jacket and focused on surviving for now, he could always ask Patamon later.

Elsewhere in the fair, JP, Kokuwamon, Zoe, and Biyomon walked out of the restaurant. JP felt bloated, but Zoe looked quite proud as she was holding onto the prize from the eating contest.

"I can't believe how many plates you were able to down and not gain a single weight," JP groaned. "How do you do that?"

"Never ask a girl her secrets~" Zoe grinned.

Kokuwamon and Biyomon looked up, seeing Petaldramon. Both of them looked at each other before they nodded.

"Hey, JP," Kokuwamon said. "I know I joined the group pretty late, but… it's been a good ride, hasn't it?"

JP blinked as he looked at Kokuwamon in surprise. "Uh… Yeah, but why are you saying this so suddenly?"

"Just think about how far we've come since we met," Kokuwamon said. "You were upset about being the only one in the group to not have your Spirit at the time. Yet look at you now. I'm glad I got to watch you grow, as well as help release the other Kokuwamon from slavery. Who knows, maybe someday I can be as strong as you one day."

JP blinked before smiling. "I'm sure you will. After all of this, you guys have to be close to digivolving like Tsunomon was."

"You think so?" Kokuwamon asked.

"Yeah, of course. I doubt you'll stay small forever, and even then… you've been a big help to us," JP assured. "You even talked to me when I was feeling down too. You protected me when Grumblemon tried to kill us back at that cavern. I couldn't ask for a better friend."

"Heh… well, that's what friends do," Kokuwamon chuckled.

Biyomon looked at Zoe. "When I saw you guys, I didn't want to get close at first. I was content with just watching you from afar… And… well, I'm glad I was able to get to know you. We had a lot of fun together, even when we were in danger a lot. You've proven to be a capable warrior despite being the only girl in the group."

"Well… Yeah, but… you're talking like you're going away." Zoe noted with a frown on her face. "Is something wrong?"

Biyomon gave a smile at Zoe. "Am I? I'm sorry if what I said worried you. I just felt like looking back at how much you've all grown since we met. You're no longer those scared kids we had to help protect and guide. Pretty soon, you'll be ready to face with Cherubimon. And, of course, we'll be helping you to the best of our abilities."

"Yeah… That's true…" Zoe admitted, but something about how Biyomon was speaking made her feel uncomfortable anyway. "I guess this has just made things more real for you, huh?"

"Yeah," Biyomon admitted. "I didn't like the color pink, you know. I didn't like a lot of bright colors actually. But… maybe bright colors aren't such a bad thing after all."

"Hey!" JP spoke up. "Is that Petaldramon over there!?"

Zoe's eyes went wide, not having notice the Petaldramon earlier. "I think it is! We gotta help the others!"

"Come on, guys!" JP quickly said.

JP and Zoe hurried towards Petaldramon, but Kokuwamon and Biyomon didn't follow them.

Back at the battlefield, Lopmon's eyes looked at the D-Tector in Datamon's hands as he held it out to Tommy. "Go on, take it."

Tommy blinked, surprised. "Huh?"

"You know, at first I thought you were just making up stories because you wanted these things so badly. But the Toucanmon just confirmed to me these things really do belong to you… and even if they didn't, I think you truly deserve them," Datamon explained. "So here, take it. I have a feeling the being inside is happy to see you again."

Tommy blinked before he nodded, taking his D-Tector. "Thanks, Datamon!"

"But don't tell anyone I've gone soft," Datamon quickly said.

Tommy then noticed something was… different with his D-Tector. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, and he was a little worried that it was still broken or something was loose. Tommy shook the D-Tector a little to try to hear anything wrong.

Datamon chuckled. "It's not broken! But… I did add something."

"Like what?" Tommy asked. I didn't think it was possible to add something to these things.

"What you won in the game, it's really yours after all," Datamon explained.

"Huh?" Tommy blinked, not understanding what it was before he looked at the screen on his D-Tector.

Tommy saw the symbol of ice flashing before it showed him an unfamiliar figurine inside. It wasn't Kumamon, but Tommy recognized what it was. "My… My Beast Spirit! You are awesome, Datamon!"

Tommy knew what he had to do. He was about to activate his D-Tector when Lopmon's ear suddenly touched his hand, stopping him. Tommy blinked before he looked down. "Hmm? Lopmon?"

Lopmon looked up at Tommy as he dropped his ear. "Tommy… before you go out there… I just need a moment."

"I have to hurry, Takuya and Koji need help," Tommy quickly said.

"I know, I'll try to make it quick," Lopmon promised. "... You've grown a lot during these past few weeks that we've been travelling together. You all have. I… wanted to stay away from you guys at first… but even now… I think it was for the best that we managed to stay together for this long. We… got to know each other, got to bond, and help each other out in ways I didn't think was possible. I was… glad to be a part of this whole adventure. I can see now why you guys were chosen to be the Legendary Warriors."

Tommy frowned a little. "Yeah… I guess we have grown a lot together. You guys have been a great help. But… Lopmon, you know we couldn't have done this without you guys, right?"

Lopmon looked at Tommy. "Maybe…"

Lopmon gave a small smile. "I just wish… we had more time…"

"Huh?" Tommy blinked.

"We'll be there, helping you guys as you keep getting stronger. And you guys keep doing what you're doing, and don't forget yourselves," Lopmon said before he took a few steps back. "Now go on, use your Beast Spirit and show Petaldramon who's boss."

Tommy nodded. Something about Lopmon's words sounded so… final… But he couldn't dwell on that at the moment. He had to fight back against Petaldramon first. Then he could ask Lopmon what was going on.

Tommy held up his hand as a ball of fractal code formed around it. His Beast Spirit was shown on the screen in its light green outline. Tommy slammed the scanner of his D-Tector against the ball of fractal code, scanning it as he did so. "Execute! Beast Spirit Evolution!" Tommy cried out as the primal power of the Spirit flowed into his body. His body grew in size and strength with white fur covering his body. His hair became long and braided as he also grew horns from his head. He landed, grabbing twin axes and swinging them around as he cried out his name. "Korikakumon!"

Tommy had officially evolved into his Beast Spirit. Time was now up.

---

Titanic X: ZAFT: Nope! She will not be happy at all! XD

DarkFoxKit: If it works, then it works.

pokemon fan 1991: DarkFoxKit: Yeah, we thought it'd be more interesting if the partner Digimon left the kids instead of staying with them, and we're just writing out the episodes of Frontier with a few differences.

ZAFT: And it really changed things up, as we did things we didn't imagine we would do. XD

Akhemphi: ZAFT: Glad to have you back! XD And yeah, Andy is just that lovable! X3

DarkFoxKit: Andy is the focus, just not in the way you expect. But if you meant the story going back to the Danny Phantom world, that's not going to be for a while. Like I said in the Author's Note, this story was a long and grueling thing to write. Lots of plans changed and many ideas were cut for the sake of getting the plot to keep moving. I've even lost a lot of motivation to keep writing after a while, especially with the lack of reviews. But we kept pushing until the end.

ZAFT: We hope you will review more too. :3 Season 2 is set to begin soon, so we hope you will review that as well! X3