Bzzz

Owen’s eyes briefly flicked down to his phone, but he didn’t respond, instead gently running his finger over the rim of his tea mug, and listening to the rambles from the young man in front of him.

“...so I got some major flak from this guy who would not shut up about how I’m drawing the character wrong and how actually it’s disrespectful to him and everybody like him and how I’m a baaad artist.”

Owen smirked. “Should’ve inserted the entire deluxe brush set into him, really.”

Kevin rolled his eyes, used to Owen’s helpful suggestions by this point. “Not really; the lecturer overheard and gave an impromptu mini-talk on the meaning of ‘interpretation’, so it’s all good. I think I’m getting the better mark.”

The young man chuckled, and placed his portfolio book back in his satchel. He was a short but well-built man, with short hair bleached blonde on the top, and round glasses that sat about halfway down his broad nose. He placed his elbows on the table, fiddling with his cufflinks. “It’s kinda straightforward so far. Everyone thinks they’re the only ones who know what they’re doing and yet we just end up paying however much for some old guys to tell us we’ve never been doing it right.”

Owen straightened up. “Isn’t that...well...the same with everything, though?”

“’Interpretation’, Owen. Nothing you do is wrong, unless you don’t do it the way that they do it and you only get half credit.”

“Owch.”

“It comes with the territory.”

Kevin leant forwards and took another sip of coffee, before he noticed Owen’s phone buzzing on the table again. He gestured. “You gonna get that?”

Owen unenthusiastically tilted it up from the table, before placing it back down. “Nothing important.”

He folded his arms, very aware of Kevin staring at him over the rims of his glasses. Owen’s shoulders shuffled. “I mean it...seriously...”

“...Owen, are you neglecting your duties?”

“What? No. There’s nothing going on they can’t handle.” Owen planted a thumb into the centre of his chest. “I’m part of a team now. In practical terms, that means that I can have a break now and then. Hence I am here, with you, being a caring boyfriend.”

Kevin opened his mouth to say something, when there was a crash from outside. The two of them peered into the shopping centre, just in time to see a fat blue beetle lurching down through the air, with a tiny bird on its back waving a small dagger. The beetle landed with a thud, and scuttled off, closely followed by Lonnie and Dendromon. The other people in the cafe had seen as well, and were in the process of hiding themselves, or pressing up against the glass to get a better view.

Owen blinked twice, before gesturing nonchalantly. “See? Totally under control.”

Kevin held the bridge of his nose, before planting his palm down on the cafe table. “Right. You. Get your arse out there right now.”

“But Kevin-“

“No buts. Your friends are working hard out there; the least you can do is show moral support.” He fumbled in his pocket and rolled a set of keys over the table. “Your helmet’s in the boot of my car. Get moving.”

Owen shook his shoulders in a stroppy fashion. “I don’t wanna! We never do this anymore!”

“We did it last week. And we can do it again after you’ve done your damn job.”

Owen still looked utterly against the idea. Kevin sighed. “I’ll buy you a saving-the-world pretzel.”

“...with mustard?”

“You’re paying for that yourself.”

Owen sighed loudly, swiping the keys and stomping off. “Uh...fine. I’m going. Cause clearly you don’t wanna spend time with me ever.”

His companion blew him a kiss, before watching as the taller man barged his way through the other customers and made a dash for the car park, in amongst several other people trying to get out of the way. Kevin just sat back, staring out the window as the carnage steadily grew outside.

“Catch you later.”

Jack winced as he rushed up the steps two at a time, heading straight towards Suricamon as she swung around the fountain, banging it with her shovel and hollering at the top of her lungs. Perimon swooped low above him, much to Jack’s chagrin as he glowered upwards.

“You know I’m blaming you for this, right?”

“It was an accident,” squawked the bird indignantly. “Nobody bothers to maintain these places properly, that’s the problem-“

“I don’t care about how it happened. I’m trying to show them all that I’m being competent and then you fall off a shelf. When are you going to learn to slow down?”

Perimon groaned, banking to the left. “It’s haaaaard. I’m big and I have short legs and walking is pain.”

“Deal with it.”

“Are you a bird? Do you understand bird problems?”

Jack shot him a look. “I’ve been a bird before and you bloody know it so don’t pull that card on me again.”

“...oh yeah...”

“Devilish Digger!”

Perimon gave a sudden shocked honk as Suricamon leapt from the top of the fountain, holding her shovel like a cleaver. She swung downwards, catching the edge of Perimon’s wing with a massive clang, and sending him into a corkscrew.

“I’m hit! I’m hit!”

Jack rushed to the balcony as Suricamon landed neatly behind him, brushing herself off. “Check and mate, chicken-boy.”

There was a whooshing sound as Perimon arced back up, having just recovered with little more than a dent to his armour and his pride. He glared downwards, his pupils narrowing.

“Right, okay then, this shit just got personal.”

He swooped downwards, flying over Jack’s head as he prepared to ram Suricamon, but she dodged out the way, blowing a raspberry as she went. “Is that the best you’ve got?”

Perimon smirked, and twisted his body ninety-degrees, banking round in an impossibly tight turn that made even Jack wince. Suricamon didn’t even register before the falcon was upon her, beak open.

“Wind Tunnel!”

The column of air swung sideways and sent her skittering away, and she soon found herself running for dear life as Perimon remained hot on her heels. She ducked under the banister, and a few seconds later re-emerged on the other side, still making rude gestures. Perimon banked again, a little less elegantly this time. Jack could hear him muttering as he swooped overhead. “This would be so much easier if I could evolve!”

The boy cupped his hands over his mouth, as he shouted, “We can’t do that, we’re still inside!”

“I know that. Despite all evidence to the contrary I’m not stupid!”

Suricamon ducked again, before making a leap of faith to the nearest pillar. Perimon veered again, aiming for her as she twisted around it, but the meerkat was faster, and he ended up running into the flat of her shovel instead.

Dong

“OW!”

“Devilish Digger!”

Suricamon raised her shovel with a wild grin and brought it down on the bird’s helmet with an immense clang. The bird fell down in a heap on the ground, his eyes spinning. Suricamon leapt down, and he raised his head, firing point blank at her.

“Wind Tunnel!”

The meerkat was blown back again, but she remained standing, holding her shovel like a staff.

“How sad to see you down on the floor with the rest of us, dumb bird. I wonder how many whacks your armour’s gonna take. I wanna find out! Please let me find out-hey!“

She squeaked indignantly as her shovel was yanked out of her hand, and she turned just in time to see Jack swinging it directly at her face. It connected harshly, and she spun on the spot, before landing in a twisted heap with a stunned grin on her face. Jack rested the tool over his shoulder, brushing off his goggles.

“That’s my dumb bird you’re talking about.”

Perimon pushed himself to his feet, his feathers rustling. “Jack, watch out!”

The boy turned half on his heel, just in time to have a six-foot mud man rugby tackle him to the ground. MudFrigimon landed with a whump, before pushing himself up almost instantly. “Oh my god, I’m sorry, are you alright?”

The boy was in too much of a coughing fit from the sudden intake of peat to really come up with a proper answer, so he resorted to raising both arms in a gesture of complete and utter confusion. MudFrigimon seemed placated by this, so he stood up, and delicately plucked Suricamon’s shovel out of his own shoulder. He quickly shuffled back, crouching down by the meerkat with a concerned expression on his featureless face.

“Does it hurt? How many fingers am I holding up?”

Suricamon rolled over, and gave a small ­heee-heee, before blurting out a dazed “Siiiiix?”

MudFrigimon looked at his own digitless hand, and sighed, before scooping up the meerkat and thrusting her over one shoulder.

“Nooo...nooo, I can still taaaake theeeem...”

“Where do you think you’re going? Barrel Drive!”

MudFrigimon yelped as he saw Perimon airborne again, spinning wildly as he bore down on him. He flustered for a moment, before raising his fist and striking the ground.

“Heavy Punch!”

The blow send clods of earth flying everywhere and left a sizeable dent in the tiled flooring, but Perimon strafed expertly through the projectiles, his body slamming into MudFrigimon’s chest. The mud man doubled backwards, and rolled gently over the metal banister, buckling it in the process. Perimon peered over as he watched his opponent land with a soft thump on the floor below, before reforming and rushing off with uneven steps.

“Sorry about all that.”

Perimon spat earth from his beak, and slumped against the railings, watching as their quarries escaped. There was a creaking as Jack leaned forwards next to him, clearly out of breath and covered from head to toe in soil.

“We are so out of practice.”

“Yeah.” The bird peered up cheerily. “Nice work with the shovel though. You ever thought about extreme gardening?”

The two gave simultaneous grins, and attempted a slightly wobbly fist-wing bump. Jack placed a hand on his cheek. “You up for another run?”

“Give me a moment. I’ve got enough compost stuck in my feathers to start growing potatoes.”

“Bolt Blaster!”

Chromon rushed forwards, firing projectiles at the Troopmon as it bounced away down the hall, rather spryly for such an awkward looking Digimon. It turned, and gurgled, raising its mechanised hand. Mark held his head as he heard a sudden whining noise, and called out to his partner. “Duck!”

Three blasts of energy shot out from Troopmon’s fingertips in quick succession, each one of them bouncing off Chromon’s shield. The dinosaur snorted, and pawed the ground, his metal plating smouldering from the impact.

“Y-y-you can’t run forever!”

Troopmon squeaked in response, its entire rubber body wobbling back and forth as its mysterious innards rearranged themselves. It pumped its fluids into its other arm and raised that as well, but Chromon opened his mouth.

“Bolt Blaster!”

The attacks passed in mid-air, with Troopmon’s body billowing outwards from the bolts striking it. Chromon came off worse, as the second volley of energy bolts knocked him off his feet and left more scorch marks. Mark was practically jumping up and down behind him. “ Will you learn to dodge these things already?”

Chromon glared back. “Why don’t y-you have a g-go at dodging laser blasts once in a while?”

Mark raised a hand, before clamping it over his mouth, seething through his fingers. “I’ve never found the frickin’ time.”

“Nemesis Ivy!”

“Hey!”

“Mark!”

Still holding one leafy hand out, Alraumon leapt down from her position atop the balcony, having just fired a series of twisting tendrils over Mark and pinning him to a nearby litter bin. He pulled at them, but they twisted in his grasp, still extending from Alraumon’s palm. She grinned wickedly, and turned her attention to Chromon, who was already running towards her.

“Your partner’s right, you are slow. Nemesis Ivy!”

Chromon did try to veer to one side, but his momentum kept him barrelling forwards and he found himself directly in the living plant’s snare, entangled in the twisting thorns. Alraumon leered up in his face, her black stone-like eyes glimmering evilly.

“How’d you like it, huh? Not so tough when you can’t even move right.”

Chromon chuckled, forcing his head back and forth and poking the frill through the vines. “Aren’t you in the same p...p-position?”

Alraumon realised too late that, due to both Mark’s and Chromon’s struggling, she had managed to neatly entangle herself between a rock and a hard place. There was little she could do as Chromon raised his head, the frill glowing.

“Shield Reflect!”

The disc of metal didn’t fly outwards this time, but anodised the frill itself as he brought it forwards with a great smack on her face. She blinked, lights dancing in her eyes, but before she could speak Chromon reared back and belted her again.

“Ow! Hey, cut that out!” The plant-goblin twisted her head round far further than was suitable, and yelled at her compatriot. “Troopmon, pepper this arsehole, will you?”

There was a gurgle and a few choice squeaks as Troopmon shook its body.

“What do you mean you can’t?”

The rubber creature raised a hand, revealing two of Chromon’s bolts stuck between the seams of its outer coating. One hand was already slowly going limp as the plasmic entity within it leaked out into the surrounding air. Alraumon hissed, and dodged another assault from Chromon as she kept yelling out.

“Well put a patch on it then! Geez!”

Gurgle gurgle HIC squeak.

“What do you mean you left the gaffa tape in the hideout?”

Rumble SQUEAK bloop.

“Yeah, but you always do this! I’m a bit busy at the moment!”

“Shield Reflect!”

“Eff off you!”

Troopmon’s head sagged, and it gave a sad artificial whine. Alraumon let out a guttural groan, before yanking her leaves away and tearing the tendrils that held her in position, leaving both the boy and the dinosaur in a tangled mess. Alraumon bounded forwards and wrapped her vines around the rubber creature, supporting it as they carried on down the corridor, and moaning all the way.

“You are useless, you know that?”

Bloop.

“Don’t come to me for a pity-party, I’m doing enough for you as it is. Come on, let’s get you to the bike shop.”

Squeak gurgle HIC

“Yethmon broke the window in earlier. We’ll nick you some tyre weld.”

The plant turned to the dinosaur and the boy, and waved one leaf back and forth in a menacing gesture. “This isn’t over, a-holes!”

She rushed off, half dragging Troopmon behind her, and half being dragged as its rubber feet slapped against the ground in overdrive. Mark and Chromon were left a singular thorny pile, both contemplating their life choices.

Mark was the first to finally pull himself free, rolling his shoulders as he stood up. He winced, and ran a hand over his neck. “Yeesh, that’s gonna leave a rash.”

“Er...Mark? A little help?”

“I’m coming, I’m coming.” The boy shuffled over, yanking at the tendrils that held his partner as the dinosaur tried to shuffle out backwards.

“Thanks.”

“Sorry for getting heated back there.” Mark exhaled out the side of his mouth. “I’m just not used to such a fun life where I end up getting thrown around by shrubbery and tied to bins on a regular basis.”

Chromon shook the remaining vines off himself, and grimaced. “Solidarity, I guess?”

Mark shook his head, completely done with everything. “Remind me when I see Owen next to tell him that he missed out on all the fun.”

Lonnie swung herself up one of the railings with a victorious “Haha!”, before nearly stumbling back down the stairs as she flailed. She stared down, watching as the evening’s customers piled out of the exits, with the exception of one or two heading in different directions. A few she recognised as her own party, but not all. There was a young man pointing the way towards unblocked paths, and a middle-aged woman heading in the opposite direction, phone in hand as she spoke. Lonnie didn’t think too hard about it. They weren’t the priority right now.

There was a buzzing nearby and she whirled around, pointing behind some tables. “I can see you! You can’t escape!”

Kokabuterimon leapt up onto the table and gave a threatening buzz, holding a plastic chair in each hand. “You can’t scare me! We own this city!”

“That’s just very rude of you!” yelled Lonnie, before pointing. “Dendromon!”

“Acid Arc!”

Dendromon swiped wildly, sending flaming bolts in a wide crescent. Kokabuterimon held the chairs up in front of him, before trilling and throwing the cheap plastic furniture items one after the other. Lonnie narrowly dodged one, but the other clocked Dendromon over the head, and she tumbled backwards. The bug raised his arms, letting out a guttural hum.

“And stay down!”

Lonnie’s eyes flashed, and she picked up the fallen chair herself. “You wanna play? Really? ‘Cause I bet I can hit harder with this than you can!”

“DIIIIIIIIIIIE!”

Lonnie and Dendromon looked to one side, watching as Hyokomon ran towards them, a maddened look in her eyes and her dagger raised above her head. She powered forward, taking great strides.

Then her left foot bent back on itself mid-step, and she swung downwards, planting her face squarely into the tiled flooring.

“...diiiiiiieeeee...”

Dendromon blinked, and looked up at her partner, who shrugged.

“I...uh-“

“Scoop Slash!”

“Ack!”

Lonnie ducked to one side from one chair, before swinging the one in her hand and knocking it sideways, where it nearly clattered on top of the dazed Hyokomon. The action seemed to madden Kokabuterimon even more, as he stomped up and down. “Stand still!”

Lonnie held the chair up, her face defiant against the bug. “Is that the best you’ve got?”

Kokabuterimon buzzed, and dropped the next two chairs with a clang. Lonnie watched in amusement as he fluttered backwards, until he reached down for one of the ceramic planters next to the door, holding it effortlessly above his head as the poor ornamental tree within was tossed about with vigour.

Lonnie dropped the chair, and backed away as Kokabuterimon rushed forwards, holding the planter back before throwing it forwards with the force of a shot-put.

“I am the strongest!”

“Oh crap!”

The Lonnie grabbed her partner by the arm and yanked her to one side as the ceramic pot flew towards them like a cannonball. They lurched to one side, grabbing onto the balcony as the pot smashed on the ground next to them. Still they had no time to react as Kokabuterimon was already charging, his head lowered in an attempt to run the girl through. Dendromon stepped between them at the last second, clutching the beetle by the horn, but he was still moving with enough force to send them all clattering back into the rail.

“Searing Skin!”

Dendromon’s hands glowed, and the bug winced as jets of steam billowed out from his head armour, but he still kept pressing forwards, pushing them even further and further back against the low railings.

“You’ll pay for picking on my buddy! Nobody can save you now!”

“Micro Laser!”

A barrage of green showered over the two, with more than a few sparks flying into Lonnie, but a majority knocking against Kokabuterimon and finally driving him off. The girl peered up, as Simeamon was knelt on the roof of the building. The monkey grinned, and gave them a salute.

“Hope I didn’t get ya too bad.”

Lonnie smirked, and leant back against the railing. “Took you long enough.”

The snark was cut short as the railing, having taken more than its fair share of punishment, chose this moment to snap off of its hinges and sent the girl tilting downwards over the edge. She screamed, flailing wildly and grabbing onto Dendromon, but only succeeding in pulling her over the edge as well. The two tumbled downwards, with Lonnie closing her eyes.

“HELP!”

“I’ve got you.”

Lonnie came to rest in the embrace of a stranger’s arms, hearing him let out a brief oof as she landed. She opened her eyes, and peered up through her mask into Owen’s visor, as she sat crouched in his slender arms.

“You need to be careful around railings. They can be dangerous.”

“I know.” Lonnie looked behind her, at the dazed body of her partner sprawled out on the floor. “You could have caught her as well.”

“She’ll be fine. Digimon are durable. I’m allowed to say that cause Simeamon told me so.” Owen nodded just a little, peering down at her through the tinted acrylic. “You’re okay though, right?”

Still slightly disorientated, Lonnie held up her hands and clasped them beneath her chin, her voice taking on a sugary tone.

“Please hold me, spaceman.”

Owen blinked, his helmet falling back into place.

“No.”

He dropped her without warning, and straightened up, placing his hands on his hips. Lonnie sat forwards, rubbing her coccyx and scowling. “You big meanie.”

“Hey a-holes.”

There was a shuffling from the next floor up, and Simeamon poked her head over the edge. “We’ve still gotta bit of a bug problem here, just so y’know.”

As if in response, Kokabuterimon’s bulky body went flying off back into the depths of the centre, holding a struggling Hyokomon in his arms. Lonnie helped Dendromon get back on her feet and walking in a straight line again, as Owen sighed in a tired fashion.

“We’d better get moving.”

“There! He’s getting away!”

Grace doubled forwards at a frightening speed with Vulpimon making pace beside her, following Liopramon as he bounded ahead with a massive grin on his face. Inez brought up the rear, although she was slowing quickly, eventually coming to a stop. Syngnamon wriggled his way around her shoulders, wearing a concerned expression. Inez caught him looking, and raised a palm.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t take into account that there would be quite so much running.”

Syngnamon placed a palm on his chin, looking at his tail in shame. “I only wish there were more I could help with in that regard.”

“Well, those are the cards we draw.” Inez straightened up, just in time to see Grace disappear round to the left. Inez’s eyes edged sideways, and a small smile played over her lips.

“I suppose if you can’t run fast, think fast...”

Syngnamon clung tightly to her as she doubled back on herself, heading into the nearest shop.

Up ahead, Liopramon gave a little yelp as a blast of ice from Vulpimon tickled his neck. He turned on his heels, holding a golden coin between his finger and thumb as he winked back at them.

“I must congratulate you on the tenacity of your legs, the strength of your will. Here, let me pay your way. Lucky Doubloon!”

With a quick flick of his wrist, he flicked the coin up into the air, before raising his gloved hand in a flicking motion. He caught the spinning sovereign square, sending it flying right past Vulpimon’s ear, nicking it slightly. The fox squinted, bearing her teeth just a little.

“Is that all you’ve got?”

Liopramon whistled, and turned around, making a bowing motion as he ran backwards. “Please don’t think so little of me, fine young fox. I’ve done very well for myself over the years, so I have indeed.”

A malicious grin spread over his face as he revealed both hands, with a stack of golden coins wedged between each of his fingers. Grace stopped in her tracks, looking around for cover.

“Oh come on...”

“Lucky Doubloon!”

Liopramon flicked the coins skywards, watching as they rained down upon him. Then, with a series of impossibly fast hand movements, he began to strike outwards at each one in turn. Coins flew at Grace and Vulpimon like bullets, each of them fired with an impeccable accuracy, and each one hard enough to bruise and cut. They dove for the nearest cover, listening as the golden coins struck the glass behind them, shattering several panes.

Liopramon laughed, and leapt on top of a nearby escalator, rolling coins between his gloved fingers.

“Do you feel lucky?”

“Aqua Dance!”

The leprechaun yelped as he was struck by a blast of energy, causing him to stumble and drop a shower of coins all around him. He glared to his left, watching Syngnamon as the seahorse curled upright on the smooth floor, waving his hands and forming intricate patterns of light. Inez stood in the store door behind him, having taken a shortcut through the ransacked shop. She saw Grace hiding, and gave a nervous thumbs-up.

Liopramon scowled, and turned his attention to his new opponent, loading another glove’s worth of coins, when all of a sudden he felt a sudden chill coming from behind him, noticing the misty cloud too late.

“White Cloak!”

Vulpimon leapt forwards, having climbed to the second floor to gain the higher ground. She swiped at Liopramon, knocking him from his perch and sending him sprawling. Another blast from Syngnamon shot over his head, and he scrambled to his feet, his shoes squeaking on the smooth flooring. The leprechaun looked back and forth; first at Vulpimon, then at Syngnamon. With a grunt, he flicked his fingers, the coins disappearing in an instant, before his hand went to his hat.

“It’s been a mighty pleasure, but you’re all busy, I can see. Vanishing Cap!”

“Hold it!”

The leprechaun pulled the cloth down before Vulpimon could reach him, dematerialising and leaving just a scattering of coins. The fox landed awkwardly, skidding as she looked left and right. “Where the hell has he gone?”

Grace joined her, scanning the shops all around. “He can’t have gotten far-“

Rustle rustle

“There!”

The girl whirled round, and began to run towards the open door, where a soft figure hovered just inside, seeming to ripple and pulse in the shade. Grace powered forwards, until she reached the edge of the door itself, peering inside.

“You’re...not Liopramon...”

The shape shivered, and rippled, floating across the air with the ethereal movements of a jellyfish. It seemed to be muttering something, but its voice was low and subdued even as it came into the light. Grace raised her fists, and with a clatter Vulpimon shot past her legs, her hackles up.

“Who are you? Are you with Yethmon?”

I am the One who Tells the Story.

The voice took on a sudden sharp turn, one that commanded Grace and Vulpimon’s attention. The figure edged forwards, revealing a white, smiling mask that gently rotated with the creature’s body. Its body was made up of vivid red ribbons, twisting and folding together, and ending in a single pale gauntlet. The ribbons billowed and waved, the undulations seeming to give the creature its unnatural levitation.

It shivered, and span in mid-air, making Grace jump. The voice returned, calm as anything despite its immediate presence. Many voices and yet one. Many clauses. Many words, all together.

This is But a Misdirect and Yet it is Fate.

How Can we Know our Fate Before it is Written

How Can we Know the Suffering we Must Endure

Is it Meant to Be?

Can we Truly Suffer If We Are Aware of our Fate?

Or the Fate of Others?

If we Do Not Suffer, then Surely we Laugh.

Grace felt a tingling going up her spine. Almost instinctively, her hand crept down towards her D-SEND. But the moment her fingers touched it, then the creature screeched and dove forwards, the mask stopping just short of her own face.

ARE YOU LAUGHING AT THE CONVERGENCE DO YOU STAND ON THE PRECIPICE AND WELCOME IT ARE YOU ARE YOU WILL YOU WILL YOU WILL

“AAAH!”

Terrified, Grace staggered back, clutching onto the broken window pane. “Vulpimon!”

“Snow Blast!”

The fox leapt upwards with bitter frost in her jaws, snapping at the creature, but it swerved away and shot out the open door, spinning into the air with a great speed, and giving a deep bellowing laugh as it rose up. Vulpimon held her teeth together, feeling her whole body shaking.

“What...the hell was that?”

“I...I-I...”

Vulpimon looked aside at her partner, and gasped. “Grace, your hand!”

The young woman felt something digging into her palm, and pulled it away from the broken window pane, wincing as the residual glass left a gouge. She stepped forwards, holding her wrist tightly as Inez and Syngnamon reached the door.

“We heard something. What was-oh no...”

Grace held up her other palm, and grabbed a shirt off a nearby hanger, tearing a strip off it and wrapping it around the wound. “It’s fine, it’s fine. I’m not badly hurt.”

She sat crouched for a minute, her breath audible in the quietness. Then she stood up, clenching her fist. Vulpimon looked up at her, worriedly.

“Grace...?”

“Whatever it was, I don’t think it’s coming back. Not yet, anyway.” The girl looked at the others, her gaze steeled behind her fox mask. “Come on. We’ve got other things to worry about.”

Liopramon muttered under his breath as he ran forwards, before turning a corner and nearly running straight into MudFrigimon. The Champion level yelped and backed off, still holding onto a partially dazed Suricamon.

“Sorry about that!”

Liopramon folded his arms, looking behind him. “Those ridiculous children and their traitorous pets are ruining my flow. This isn’t going anywhere near as well as I’d have hoped.”

Suricamon squeaked on MudFrigimon’s shoulder, waving her shovel at the air. “Look out! More...more company!”

“Ah crap...”

Liopramon turned, raising his hands as Jack and Perimon rushed towards him. MudFrigimon tried to run again, but Inez and Syngnamon turned the corner, followed by Grace and Vulpimon. The fox rushed ahead quickly, cutting the three rogues off before running in, her claws bared.

“This is enough!”

“Rabid Ripper!”

With a roar Yethmon rushed forwards, holding his dagger out and deflecting the fox’s claw with a red-tinged rage. She landed, before leaping away as a peppering of coins from Liopramon shot out at her.

Perimon arced upwards, ready to dive towards the leader of the pack, but Yethmon glared upwards, his eyes glowing red.

“Deadeye!”

The glare caught the bird, and he corkscrewed away, his body stiffening from the paralytic gaze. He hit the window pane, but bounced off and remained airborne. Jack joined his sister and Inez as their partners circled the rogues again.

Grace flinched as Yethmon swiped at her partner, though the fox managed to counter effectively with a blast of ice. Syngnamon was hanging back a bit more, employing more ranged attacks, though at the distance he was at they had limited effect. Inez held onto her scarf. “I think we’re a bit outmatched here...”

Grace and Jack looked at one another, but they had to admit it; Yethmon’s presence had tilted the odds somewhat, as he seemed significantly stronger and vastly more tenacious than the three he was with. He swiped at Perimon, spat, and raised his fists up at the tamers.

“You can’t keep this up forever! We have numbers! We won’t be crushed by the likes of you! We stand together!”

“Did someone call for numbers?”

There was the crack of a door being forced open, and everybody turned to face it as Eloise and Kai walked forwards. They were dressed in long coats, and their faces were covered with a thin neoprene mask, with a masquerade eyepiece over the top; one white, and one black. Grace and Jack breathed a sigh of relief.

“You came!”

Eloise raised a palm, shaking her head. “I was told you could probably use a few reinforcements.”

Kai chuckled, stepping to one side.

“So we brought them.”

As the two stepped apart, there was a glimmer in the air and Ladomon and Colchimon shot out from between them, moving fluidly and completely in tandem. Inez watched in awe as the dragons circled the rogues, before disappearing upwards again. They took a quick break in mid-air, their eyes meeting. Ladomon giggled.

“You take right, I’ll take left?”

Colchimon seemed to go over all coy, “Look at you, so professional.”

“Deadeye!”

“Lucky Doubloon!”

The two parted before the attacks could hit them, swooping through the shopping centre. Ladomon sniffed the air as she spied out Kokabuterimon hovering in mid-air. She swooped forwards, throwing her wings out in a distraction as she circled around him. Hyokomon snarled at her and swiped with her katana, but there came a blast of laser fire from below as Simeamon shot at the bug. Kokabuterimon buzzed angrily and veered sideways, trying to ram the serpent, but she edged around again, opening her wings right in front of him.

“Blinding Stare!”

Her eyes flashed white, dazzling the bug in mid-buzz. He crashed downwards, rolling on the floor as his wings twitched. But as he heard the sound of feathery wing beats from above him, he crawled to his feet and began to run, still holding Hyokomon in his arms,

Colchimon went the opposite direction, spying Alraumon and Troopmon edging out of the bike shop. He spread his wings wide, and swooped down, dazzling the two of them. Alraumon hissed, and swung outwards with her extending vines, but Colchimon corkscrewed out of their grasp and slipped round behind the two rogues, gathering a ball of darkness in front of him.

“Paralysis Pulse!”

The ball struck Alraumon, and her vines flopped to the ground, refusing to retract. She growled, and made a move, but Troopmon reached out and dragged her forwards, holding his mended arm out as Colchimon drove them forwards.

The dragons moved quickly and efficiently, pushing all the rogues together into one place. Yethmon, Liopramon and several others tried to make a run for it, but they were caught by their current captors. And as Dendromon, Simeamon and Chromon closed in, the rogues were driven tighter and tighter together, forced towards the shattered windows.

Yethmon roared, swinging his cloak back as he held his knife up defensively. “I’m gonna tear your wings off, you limp noodles!”

“Shadow Blade!”

“Sun Spear!”

The hound swung wide, but his blow was just knocked back by the dragons’ relentless parrying. Eventually he fell to a knee, breathing heavily as Ladomon and Colchimon reunited next to the other Digimon, coiling together. Kai gave them a little round of applause.

“Very nice, you two, very neat. Good to know you still have it.”

Ladomon beamed and blushed a little, but Colchimon nudged her and she straightened up again, glaring down at the gaggle of rogues. Eloise stepped forwards. “If I were you, I’d get out and run somewhere far away. You don’t own this place anymore.”

Several of the rogues drew weapons, but a barrage of shots from the Digimon around them stopped them in their tracks. Yethmon glared up at each of the Digimon in turn.

“You’d sell your soul to these...these...filthy creatures?”

Simeamon snickered. “Hey now, he’s pretty alright when you get to know him.”

Dendromon folded her arms. “Yeah, and besides, nobody asked you!”

“R-r-right! Back off.”

“I would consider wisely before you wield another insult.”

Colchimon’s eyes widened, and he looked at Perimon and Vulpimon in turn. “You’ve trained these guys well already.”

“Listen to yourselves!” snapped Yethmon, punching the ground. “This is not your world! These are not your friends! They can’t be! They...can’t be! The only way to survive is to stand with your own!”

“Think about it Yethmon. That doesn’t work anymore.”

The hound looked up at Grace, as she continued, her hand on her chest.

“Both our kinds are here now. We need to coexist. Do you really want to keep doing this?”

The hound’s eyes flashed, and he held up his blade. “I...don’t... need YOU!”

“Yethmon, we’ve got trouble!”

Everybody looked to where Suricamon was pointing, as from the south of the centre a band of hunters were marching forwards. Vex headed the group, with Kade, and Dula, and several others behind him, each of them brandishing their own weapons.

Liopramon glanced sideways at Yethmon. “Boss?”

“...run.”

“Your call.”

With a flurry of coins, mud, vines and other projectiles, the rogues rushed backwards, crashing out through the west windows and running off into the streets. At the head of the gang, Vex began to run, with the others following suit behind him as they aimed for the doors.

Without warning, Lonnie stepped in front of them, holding her arms out. But Vex didn’t slow down, his helmet lowered as the lights danced over the visor.

“Out of the way!”

“Micro Laser!”

“Aqua Dance!”

“Snow Blast!”

“Wind Tunnel!”

“Bolt Blaster!”

“Acid Arc!”

The flurry of projectiles brought the whole group to a stop, as the tamers and their partners joined Lonnie in front of the doors. Dendromon stuck her tongue out, and flipped a claw up.

“Oops.”

“You cocky bastards!” yelled Kade, reaching for his baton as he began to march forwards. “I’ll teach you to mess with-“

“Kade, stop.”

Vex grabbed the other man by the shoulder and yanked him back, before stepping forwards himself, glaring down at Lonnie. “ You. I thought I told you to think very carefully about what side you chose.”

Lonnie smiled beneath her mask. “Thinking was never my strong point. But then I think I’m doing alright. In fact,” she said, glancing at the tamers to the left and right of her, “I think we all are.”

The hunters tensed, half-drawing weapons and taking steps, but the Digimon edged forwards as well, standing with their partners and refusing to yield. Kai looked behind him, before folding his arms.

“The threats are gone, Vex. You don’t have any reason to be here. Or do you want to turn this more serious?”

Vex’s fingers rolled on his coat. “ You can’t get rid of them. You can’t stop them. Not your way.”

Grace nodded. “Maybe that’s for the best.”

“And besides,” said Eloise, holding her boyfriend’s hand, “it’s not your call to make.”

“I’m doing what’s right.”

“So are we.”

Still at the head of the group, Lonnie held her arms out in front of the gang of adults.

“Show’s over. What are you gonna do?”

Vex stood there, almost motionless, for what felt like several minutes. Neither side yielded. But neither side advanced. From outside, the crowds were beginning to gather, held back by people in uniform. They didn’t get involved either, though they were gathering themselves, talking into radios.

Vex turned on his heels, and clicked his fingers.

“There’ll be others. And you won’t save them forever. You’ve picked the wrong side. Hopefully one day you’ll all see that.”

He backed away, with the members of his own gang following him. The tamers relaxed, before turning to the commotion outside. Yethmon and his posse were long gone, swallowed by the city.

“Psst.”

The group looked behind them, and saw a short young man waving at them from around a corner, gesturing behind him and mouthing “ use the back exit”. Owen groaned.

“Damnit Kevin, what did I tell you about spectating?”

Still, he led the way, and the eight tamers disappeared as quickly as the hunters had, with their Digimon disappearing back into the shadows from which they had come.

“So where do you think they’ve gone?”

Owen pressed his lips out, staring at the darkening sky. “Off to lick their wounds, I guess. But still, I guess we can call this a success.”

Raquel held one shoulder, with Knuckmon coiled round behind her, resting her head on a nearby crate. The girl blushed. “I’m thankful. This town needs more heroes like you. You’re looking out for everyone.”

“Heroes?” Owen smirked. “I’m not so sure...”

Inez raised a finger. “Seriously, is nobody actually concerned about where they’ve gone? Or about the hunters? Or anybody seeing us?”

There was a murmuring from the assembled tamers and their companions. Sara shook her head. “Well, the police won’t be bothering with you. Apparently they found Yethmon’s weapon stockpile in the basement of the shop; they’re looking elsewhere right now.”

Mark raised an uncomfortable eyebrow. “Can somebody tell me how ‘the Digimon have guns now’ constitutes as good news?” He turned towards the elderly woman. “And why are you still around anyway? It’s dangerous.”

Sara gave him a quick glare. “I’ve been butting my nose in longer than you have. And anyway, I promised Kai I’d keep a lookout as long as he gave me a lift back.”

“Hey everyone.”

“Speak of the devil...”

The group shuffled in as Eloise, Kai and Lonnie edged among them all around the back of the Caffé Kitty. Kevin placed his hands in his pockets, exhaling as he looked around. “It sure is getting a little crowded around here.”

“You’ve got that right.” Lonnie blinked, before looking over at him. “Pardon me, but...who are you again? You one of Owen’s friends?”

“In a sense.”

Owen looked away, his cheeks going slightly darker. “I apologise. Hey y’all, this is Kevin, he’s the guy I’m currently crashing with and also dating, with all benefits. Much to his loss.”

“Aw, come on, where’s the love?” Kevin shook his head, chuckling. “I do hope he’s not being too annoying all of the time. He’s really quite sweet once you dig down a few layers.”

“...please stop...”

Kevin grinned, and booped the taller man on the nose, causing Owen to get more than a little flustered. Lonnie couldn’t quite hide the disappointment from her face as she gazed wistfully at Owen’s blush, but she knocked herself over the cheek and turned towards Eloise and Kai, throwing her head downwards.

“I’m so sorry!”

Eloise blinked. “...for what?”

“We were supposed to have a handle on all that but...well...you had to come and bail us out. We’re supposed to be getting good at this.”

Kai scratched his chin. “I guess it was a little messy-ow.”

Eloise nudged him with an elbow, before looking around at everybody. “Honestly, this was a win. No-one died, and nobody’s still in danger. For the moment.” She shrugged. “Yeah, a few messed-up shops here and there but sometimes you take what you can get.”

She looked at each of the tamers in turn. Jack and Grace watched attentively, while Inez sat on her own, resting one hand on her cheek. Owen was lounging in amongst the crates, and Mark stood next to Knuckmon, arms folded as he tapped his finger against his elbow. Lonnie remained at the front, awkward to the end. Eloise smiled, brushing her hand through her hair.

“You’re all doing fine. Probably better than we were when we started. You’ve got drive, and you’re working hard to save as many as you can. Right now, all you need is a bit of experience.”

Kai reached out and grabbed her hand, holding it tightly in his own as she continued.

“We can’t always be there to help you, but we’re not going anywhere. Not yet.” She smiled. “You have allies. Don’t forget that.”

The new tamers looked around; at Raquel, holding a tea-towel and beaming; at Kevin, waving nervously, and at Sara, sitting patiently on a nearby crate. Lonnie gave a low laugh, and pumped a fist into the air.

“Yeah! We’re all gonna save the world!”

Kai nodded, and yawned. “And with that, do you mind if us two depart? I really didn’t plan for my shift to have gone on this long...”

The group said their farewells, and they all split up, going their separate ways as their digital companions followed them from the safety of the evening’s shadows. Jack and Grace walked down the road together, first saying goodbye to Inez, then to Lonnie, and finally heading back down the street to their own house. Grace looked back at her brother, smiling warmly. “Isn’t it nice to have a good day for once?”

Jack grinned back at her. “Isn’t it nice to have friends? No offense, but it was getting a bit much with us two all on our own.”

Grace laughed nervously, her pace slowing. “Yeah, it...really was, wasn’t it...”

Jack frowned, and turned around, watching as his sister checked her watch. She sighed, her eyes darting back and forth, before she turned and looked behind her.

“Grace?”

The girl clenched her fist, and turned back towards her brother, smiling. “Can you do me a favour? Tell mum and dad I’ll be home a bit later.”

Jack tilted his head. “Where are you going?”

The girl swallowed, trying to hide the red from her cheeks. “There’s...someone I want to meet.”

She began walking off before Jack could say another walk, holding her bag close to her as her hair flicked in the streetlamp light. Jack watched her for a moment, before shrugging, and carrying on towards their home.

Grace carried on, feeling her feet taking her even though her head was still a blank, indecisive mess. She turned the corner, and found herself slowing, seeing the lone figure standing below the streetlamp. She checked her watch again, and cursed inwardly. 5:50. Not a great impression.

She ran up, as Nicholas turned towards her, blinking behind his glasses. “Hello-“

“Hi, yes, please forgive me, I didn’t mean to be so late.” Grace shuffled, holding the strap of her bag with both hands. “It’s just...I just...”

Nicholas raised a palm. “Please, I just...I’m just thankful you came. I realise I might have been a bit...um...”

“Spontaneous?”

“...yeah...earlier, and I thought you wouldn’t be coming.”

Grace stared up into the boy’s eyes, reflecting the orange of the streetlamp. The boy turned away, swallowing. “So...is this alright?”

Grace shuffled. “I’ve never done this before.”

“Do you want to carry on, or-“

The girl reached out, grasping his palm. The boy blinked, a faint pink tinge coming to his own cheeks. Grace smiled, and turned him towards the restaurant door.

“I suppose there’s only one way to find out.”

Holding hands, the two opened the door and walked inside, the bell jingling as it closed behind them. The rain was beginning to fall in spots from the sky, illuminated in the cone of light.

From some way away, the masked figure watched the two teenagers through the window, their ribbon-like tendrils flowing in the air. They giggled, and turned, swaying across the rooftops at a frightening speed.

After five minutes of travelling across rooftop and river, the town opened out, and they swooped down, rattling their gauntlet across railway tracks as they swished into one of the old station buildings.

Comediemon?

The figure stopped, and spun in mid-air, their smiling face unchanging. They turned, and peered up into the arches of the old railway building.

Tragediemon.

With the faintest of rustling, a new figure slid down from the rafters, looking much the same as the first creature, only with blue ribbons, a left gauntlet instead of a right one, and a mask twisted downwards in a mortified wail. The two circled around each other, almost getting entangled, but pulling away at the last moment. Comediemon flipped over, staring upside-down at their sibling.

The Scene Awaits?

We had an Early Player

And their Role?

Tragediemon rolled their ribbons, looking almost ashamed.

Fate is Not Kind to Those Unaware of their Greater Purpose

The two masked figures turned in unison, peering over the edge of the platform. A person’s hand stretched upwards, fingers locked in a rigid claw, the flesh grey and cold. Comediemon sighed wistfully, and spun over behind Tragediemon.

Such Missed Opportunity within the Story. What regarding Redemption? Or Reveal?

How can one Reveal when one has so Little? How can one Redeem when one gives no Reason?

They Must be Allowed To Develop

They Must Face their Destiny

The Destiny of Darkness?

The Destiny of Truth

You speak not Words I can Believe

I Crave your Naiveté

Tragediemon lay themselves down on the platform, twiddling the ends of their ribbons over the edge.

And What of the Main Players?

Comediemon bunched themselves up excitedly, their mask quivering and the fingers of their gauntlet opening and closing.

The Curtain is Trembling.

And What of their Fates?

They are Unpredictable

They must Die

They must Live

They promise Despair

They bring Hope

We must Decide

One can only Decide when the Story is Set.

The Stage is Procured.

Shall we Gather the Audience?

The two whirled amongst one another, the masks staring deeply into one another’s eyes as their voices combined into a single, melodic whisper.

“Prepare for the Greatest and Most Terrible Story Ever Told, and Pray for the Myriad Torture that Awaits, that the Happy Ending still Awaits Us All.”

“For The Catastrophe Approaches.”

“We Must Bring this Story To an End.”

“Before it Begins...”