Embedded Files
Four days had passed since the group returned from the Digital World, yet the transition back to the mundane reality of New York felt like treading through heavy water. Zai walked down the path of Devilis, the heat radiating off the pavement in shimmering waves. On this strange corner of the world, the ground held a steady, unnatural seventy degrees.
"Umm... how are you even surviving this fiery surface?" Syn asked, wiping sweat from her brow.
Zai, walking beside her, gave a playful, teasing look. "Well..."
"Please!" Syn cried out, breaking into a frantic hop. "My feet are literally melting! Help me!"
Zai laughed as Syn began jumping up and down, frantically blowing on the soles of her shoes to cool them off. The levity was a welcome distraction, but as they ducked inside the nearest building, the cool air hitting their skin felt like a temporary shield. Fighting Digimon was, in many ways, far simpler than navigating the oddities of Devilis. With a quick wave, Zai took off, racing to make it to school on time.
Elsewhere, the morning was far less cinematic. Syn and Wanyamon had found a patch of cold steel flooring and were currently pressing their scorched feet against bags of ice. "Much better," Syn sighed, the relief visible in her eyes.
In another part of the city, Evander lay buried under his duvet, desperately clinging to sleep. He was unsuccessful. Koromon was using his stomach as a trampoline.
"Get up, Evander! Get up! Get up! Get up!" the small, pink Digimon chirped with relentless rhythm.
Evander squinted at the alarm clock: 6:30 AM. "I’m thirsty!" Koromon yelled, his voice echoing in the small room.
Evander sat up with a groan, rubbing his eyes. Having a digital partner was like having a toddler that never ran out of batteries. "I can’t believe you guys get so hungry and thirsty at the crack of dawn," he muttered, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. "Alright, alright. I’m up."
He stumbled into the kitchen, his movements clumsy with exhaustion. Clang! A cup tipped over, clattering loudly against the tile.
Be quiet! Evander scolded himself mentally, freezing in place. He poured a bowl of water for Koromon, watching the Digimon drink happily. He managed to doze off on the sofa for another thirty minutes before a new weight landed on his chest.
"Get up, Evander! Please?" Bedmon asked, staring down at him with wide, expectant eyes.
"What is it now, Bedmon?" Evander asked, his voice muffled by a cushion.
"I want to play..."
"Give me one more hour," Evander bargained, already drifting back down. "One hour, then we play. Deal?"
True to his word, an hour later he was up, fueling himself with breakfast before sitting down at his computer to tackle the mountain of schoolwork he’d neglected during their adventures.
On Felincius, Flora stepped out of her house, adjusting her backpack. Tanemon and Salamon watched her from the window, keeping a low profile as she headed toward the local high school.
Mario’s morning had been much more domestic. He had finally introduced his Digimon partners to his parents. After the initial shock wore off, his mother and father had taken a liking to the strange creatures, though a lingering nervousness remained.
"Bye Mom! Bye Dad! Heading to school!" Mario called out, grabbing his keys.
"Okay! Be careful!" his mom joked from the kitchen. "Don't get hit by a car... or any more evil Digimon!"
"I'll try my best!" Mario laughed, closing the door behind him.
After school, Mario returned home to a whirlwind of energy.
"Mario! Where did you go?" Gigimon wailed, throwing himself at Mario’s shins. "I waited for days! Decades! You never came home!"
"It was only six hours, Gigimon," Mario explained, patting the Digimon’s head. "I have to go to school to learn how to survive life, remember?"
Koromon chimed in from the kitchen counter. "I need nachos. I don't like anything in these cabinets or the refrigerator."
"None of it?" Gigimon gasped, offended on behalf of the pantry.
"No, not really," Koromon said, turning his big eyes toward Mario. "Mario? Can we go to the grocery store? Please?"
Mario sighed, dropping his bag. "I’ve got homework, guys. Plus, I really need a nap. The jet lag from hopping between time zones is killing me." He collapsed onto his bed, his eyes already fluttering shut.
"Yeah, I know what you mean," Gigimon admitted, settling onto the rug. "I couldn't sleep at all last night. I don't know if my internal clock will ever be right again."
Mario let out a tired giggle, rolling onto his side. "Don't worry. I'm sure we'll get back on schedule soon."
Just then, his mother peeked into the room. "Mario? Would you like a milkshake, honey?"
"No, thank you, Mom," Mario replied. "I’m actually going back to the Digital World soon to head over to America. I’m meeting up with Evander and Jessica. With the time difference, when it’s 8:00 PM here, it’ll be 8:00 AM there."
By the time Evander finished his schoolwork, the sun was high. He looked over at Bedmon and remembered his promise. "Alright, Bedmon, what do you want to do?"
"We could go to McDonalds!" Bedmon suggested, before changing his mind. "Actually, let's go for a bike ride. I'll sit in the basket!"
"Good idea," Evander said, grabbing his Digivice. "But let's get you guys into your preferred forms first. It’ll be safer."
The room filled with a sudden, blinding light as the data reshaped itself.
"Bedmon Digivolve to... Ladybugmon!" "Koromon Digivolve to... Agumon!" "Gummymon Digivolve to... Terriermon!"
They headed outside, the cool breeze catching Evander’s hair as he pedaled. Agumon clung to his back like a backpack, Ladybugmon hovered steadily beside them, and Terriermon sat regally in the front basket, his long ears flapping in the wind. They hadn't gone far when they spotted Jessica.
"Hey guys! Where are you headed?" she asked, catching up on her own bike.
"To the park," Evander shouted over the wind. "Mario emailed me—he wants to go cycling together. Want to join us?"
"Definitely!" Jessica smiled.
As they approached the park entrance, a lone figure stood in their path. The group skidded to a halt. It was Emily. She had discarded the dark, regal attire of the Digimon Ruler; instead, she wore a simple dark blue shirt and jeans. Her eyes, once hidden behind sunglasses, were now open and vulnerable.
"Get out of our way, Emily!" Jessica snapped, her hands tightening on her handlebars. "We’re done fighting you!"
Emily’s eyes went wide, and she waved her hands frantically in front of her face, a bead of nervous sweat rolling down her temple. "No! Wait! You don't understand! I’ve changed!" Her voice cracked. "Seeing Lopmon deleted like that... it broke me. It pierced right through that rock-solid heart I thought I had. I’m good now. I... I want to join the team."
"Okay," Evander said simply.
"What?!" Jessica shrieked. "Evander, are you crazy? It’s a trap! You can't trust her!"
Emily’s shoulders slumped. "I knew it," she whispered, turning to walk away.
"Wait, Emily!" Evander called out, reaching a hand toward her. He looked at Jessica. "I believe everyone deserves a second chance. Look at Ken—he turned it around. Besides, her base was destroyed in the final battle. Even if she wanted to go back to being a Ruler, she has nothing left to control."
Jessica sighed, her gaze softening just a fraction. "I don't know..."
"I promise I won't hurt you anymore," Emily said, her voice sincere. "I know I haven't earned your trust, but just give me one chance. I'll prove it to you."
"Fine," Jessica relented. "But you’d better keep that promise."
They reached the park's center, where Mario was waiting on the swings with his Rookie partners. When he saw Emily, he leaped to his feet, his face pale.
"Evander! Stand back! It’s the Digimon Ruler!"
"No, Mario, it’s okay! I’m on your side now!" Emily yelled.
"Oh yeah? Just like Ken from the anime?" Mario retorted, crossing his arms. "We all know real life doesn't work like that."
Emily looked down, hurt. But Kokomon, resting in her arms, looked up. "Come on, Mario. Even humans can change when they’re young."
"Hey, since we’re all here, let’s just ride!" Gabumon suggested, trying to break the tension.
"Yeah! I want to go fast!" Leormon cheered.
They spent the afternoon cycling through the winding park paths. Emily stayed near the back of the pack. "Kokomon, do you think they’ll ever trust me?"
"Don't worry," Kokomon squeaked. "They’ll forgive you in time. I already have."
"Thanks, buddy."
"You’re welcome! Hey... is that a hill?" Kokomon’s ears twitched nervously. "I’m getting a little scared."
Emily petted his head gently. "Don't worry, I’ve got you. You’re safe."
By the time they reached the bottom of the hill, the rest of the gang—Tameron, Rei, and Keith—had joined them. After hanging out for a few hours, the group migrated back to Evander’s house.
Evander’s mother met them at the door, her eyes widening when she saw the newcomer. "So... this is the Digimon Ruler?" she asked, her voice laced with motherly concern.
"Yeah," Evander explained. "She says she’s changed. I’m giving her one shot. If she blows it, that’s it."
"I really have changed," Emily insisted. "I’ll prove—"
A deafening roar shattered the evening air. The ground trembled. From the street emerged a nightmare of prehistoric data: DinoRexmon. A massive, Mega-level dinosaur bristling with the X-Antibody, its metallic scales glinting in the twilight.
"Is this one of yours?" Evander’s mom demanded, glaring at Emily.
"No! I swear!" Emily cried, her Digivice beginning to glow. "I'll prove it! I'll take him down for you!"
She raced outside, her voice joined by the chorus of the other children.
"Kokomon Digivolve to... Lopmon!" "Lopmon Warp Digivolve to... Antylamon!" "Ladybugmon Warp Digivolve to... Tankbugmon!" "Terriermon Warp Digivolve to... Rapidmon!" "Agumon Warp Digivolve to... MetalGreymon!" "Pawnchessmon Warp Digivolve to... BishopChessmon!" "Gabumon Warp Digivolve to... WereGarurumon!" "Leormon Warp Digivolve to... GrapLeomon!" "Guilmon Warp Digivolve to... WarGrowlmon!" "Agumon (2) Warp Digivolve to... RizeGreymon!" "Palmon Warp Digivolve to... Lillymon!" "Meldmon Warp Digivolve to... Floxmon!" "Gatomon Digivolve to... Angewomon!" "BlackGatomon Digivolve to... LadyDevimon!"
The street became a battlefield.
"Bug Spray!" Tankbugmon shrieked, unleashing a mist of corrosive energy. "Giga Blaster!" MetalGreymon launched his organic missiles. "Rapid Fire!" Rapidmon’s arm cannons blurred with speed. "Bishop Laser!" A concentrated beam of light erupted from BishopChessmon’s staff.
The attacks slammed into DinoRexmon’s hide, but the smoke cleared to reveal him unscathed. The beast let out a guttural laugh. "Ogre Flame!"
A torrent of blue fire erupted from the dinosaur's maw, slamming into Tankbugmon, MetalGreymon, and Antylamon, sending them tumbling through the air.
"Treasure Axe!" Antylamon spun like a whirlwind, her blades clashing against the Mega's scales with a shower of sparks. Still, no damage.
The Digimon redoubled their efforts. "Gatling Arms!" "Mega Claw!" "Tri Beam!" "Cyclone Turbine!" "Rising Destroyer!"
DinoRexmon ignored the onslaught, charging forward. "Splatter Hunting!" He moved with terrifying speed, his claws carving through the air and striking WarGrowlmon and Rapidmon with brutal precision.
"He's a Mega!" Evander yelled, shielding his eyes from the debris. "We can't hurt him if we can't reach the Mega level ourselves!"
"I won't give up!" Emily screamed. "I have to prove I'm worthy of being your friend!"
"And I’m with her!" Antylamon added, her hands glowing with psychic energy. "Arm Bomber!" A massive shockwave rippled out, but DinoRexmon simply swiped it aside.
"Ogre Flame!"
Antylamon flipped through the air, her lithe body dodging the fire by inches. Behind her, Tankbugmon roared, "Hyper Cannon!" The blast hit the Mega square in the chest, but DinoRexmon didn't even flinch.
The battle raged on, a desperate cycle of dodges and failed strikes. LadyDevimon unleashed her Darkness Waves, only for the beast to counter with more fire. Finally, Angewomon flew high, her wings glowing. "Heaven's Charm!"
A portal opened, and the combined energy of the group’s hopes channeled into a single, blinding pillar of light. DinoRexmon roared in frustration, narrowly dodging the strike and lunging at Angewomon with his Splatter Hunting claws.
"Bug Spray!" Tankbugmon tried to distract him, but it was useless.
"Hyper Beam!" DinoRexmon roared. A massive wave of pure, destructive energy erupted from his mouth, engulfing the entire front line.
One by one, the Digimon hit the ground, their data fractured. In a flash of light, they reverted to their Rookie forms, bruised and exhausted.
"Agumon! Terriermon!" Evander ran to them, his heart sinking. "Are you okay?"
"We'll... we'll be fine," Ladybugmon whispered, struggling to stand.
"We have to do something," Emily said, her hands shaking as she reached into her pocket. She pulled out the Red-Mark Stones she had kept. "I realized something... these stones... if you use your Crests to purify their energy, you can bridge the gap! You can reach the Mega level!"
"Let’s do it!" Tameron shouted.
The children gathered in a circle, holding their glowing Crests against the crimson stones. The dark energy of the stones began to shimmer, turning from a corrupted red to a brilliant, pure white.
The data surged. The world seemed to hold its breath.
"Agumon Warp Digivolve to... WarGreymon!" "Terriermon Warp Digivolve to... MegaGargomon!" "Leormon Warp Digivolve to... SaberLeomon!" "Gabumon Warp Digivolve to... MetalGarurumon!" "Pawnchessmon Warp Digivolve to... KingChessmon!" "Lopmon Warp Digivolve to... Cherubimon!" "Birdmon Warp Digivolve to... Raptormon!" "Agumon (2) Warp Digivolve to... ShineGreymon!" "Palmon Warp Digivolve to... Rosemon!" "Meldmon Warp Digivolve to... Swiftmon!" "Gatomon Warp Digivolve to... Magnadramon!" "BlackGatomon Warp Digivolve to... Lilithmon!"
The air crackled with the sheer power of ten Megas.
"Terra Force!" WarGreymon gathered atmospheric energy into a massive sun-like sphere. "Metal Wolf Claw!" MetalGarurumon unleashed a barrage of freezing missiles. "Gargo Missiles!" MegaGargomon’s shoulder cannons thundered. "Lightning Spear!" Cherubimon hurled a bolt of holy electricity.
DinoRexmon reeled, his scales finally cracking under the pressure. "Ogre Flame!" He fired a desperate blast at WarGreymon, but the hero of the skies simply deflected it with his Brave Shield.
"Holy Hug!" Cherubimon enveloped the beast in a binding light, slowing his movements.
ShineGreymon stepped forward, his GeoGrey Sword wreathed in solar fire. "Glorious Burst!"
The explosion was blinding. When the light faded, DinoRexmon was gone, replaced by a single, floating Digi-Egg that slowly drifted away toward the Primary Village.
The battle was over. The Digimon, exhausted, reverted all the way back to their Fresh forms. The children carried them back inside.
"What was that thing?" Lily asked, her voice trembling.
"DinoRexmon," Evander said, looking at Emily with a new sense of respect. "But he’s gone now... thanks to Emily. And her Red-Mark Stones. Because of her, we finally reached the Mega level."
The room grew quiet as the weight of the day settled in. Zai sighed. "Well, I told my parents I was at a field study. I have nowhere to go for the rest of the week."
Please don't say she can stay with me... Evander thought frantically. Please, please...
"Can I stay with you, Jessica?" Zai asked.
Evander let out a long, silent breath of relief.
Suddenly, his Digivice began to beep—a priority transmission. He stepped into the hallway. "I gotta take this," he whispered to Mario.
The holographic image of Jijimon appeared. "Evander, listen closely. I need you to gather the boys and start working on battle strategies. Jessica, you’re in charge of the girls. I’ll be there in the morning."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Evander interrupted. "What’s going on?"
"Are you singing 'Butterfly'?" Jijimon asked. "Because you're way off-key."
"No, Jijimon, I'm not singing," Evander said, rubbing his temples. "Why are we splitting into two groups?"
"Because you've been working so hard," Jijimon explained, "I wanted your planning session to feel like a sleepover. But make no mistake—this is serious. A new threat is emerging."
"A new enemy? Who?"
Jijimon’s expression turned grave. "They are called the Anti-Royal Knights. ChaosGallantmon, D'arcmon, Piedmon, and Kuzhamon. Look them up in your Digidex. I have to go—I’m out of quarters!"
The transmission cut to black. Evander walked back into the living room, his face pale.
"Guys..." he said, his voice barely a whisper. "We've got trouble."
To Be Continued...
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