152 digital years earlier...

Blossoms. Falling from the skies, before whipping up again, forming part of the lilac maelstrom. It spun around in the burnished sky, forming a great helix, or a vast serpent that coiled around the crystalline peak. The lone figure stood at the head, her feathers flickering in the silent wind. There was a slight tapping against the rock as two other figures – two birds - walked up behind her. One was portly, and scarlet, with a broad chest and a splayed tail. The other, small and white, with a veil over her head. She looked up at her companion, tapping her feet.

“How did you know she’d be here, Niwamon?”

“I had a feeling.”

She walked forwards, with the smaller dove hiding in her shadow. The rooster bent over, blinking her sharp eyes.

“Hey, Zenamon and I got your message.” She cooed reassuringly, bowing her head. “How are you doing, Mynahmon?”

Slowly, the third bird turned around, keeping her head down. Her royal blue feathers were matted with dirt, and her green eyes had lost their lustre. But she turned, and smiled, chirruping cheerfully.

“Me? Absolutely fine. Nothing wrong at all. You know me, don’t you?”

Niwamon raised an eyebrow. “Yes. We do. Far too well.”

“Your message was very short,” chipped in Zenamon, poking her head out from behind the rooster’s wing. “You don’t do short.”

Mynahmon stood stock still, the two halves of her beak clicking together. She looked on the verge of trying to speak, but her jaw was locked up, and her eyes were straining, tears welling in the corners. Niwamon let out a breath.

“What happened to them, Mynahmon? To your friends.”

The wind picked up, blowing past like wind chimes, loud enough that it almost drowned out Mynahmon’s whimpering voice.

“We...we...we tried so hard...we really did this time...we had another chance and we...they...we tried...to put everything right for them and...it’s not fair...”

She raised her head, long-held tears trickling down her beak as her smile flickered uncontrollably.

“Why do the humans have to suffer because of us? All the time! Every time! We can’t we ever g...get it...right?”

She broke down completely, holding her wings over her eyes as she choked back tears, unable to get any further words out. Niwamon stepped forwards, bending down as she gave her lifelong friend a reassuring nudge.

“Hey, come on, it’s alright. You can let it all out. That’s what we’re here for, right Zenamon?”

“Bwwwaaaaaaaaaaaaa-“

Niwamon held her breath, watching as Zenamon promptly burst into tears herself, running forwards and tripping into Mynahmon’s chest. She buried her beak into the other bird’s fuzz, occasionally taking gulps of air.

“It’s so hard for you! It’s not fair! Why are you going through all thiiiiiiis?”

“I know, right?”

“I knooooooow!”

Niwamon stood upright, looking awkwardly between the two gibbering messes as they fell to her knees before her. The rooster sighed, clucking gently. “You two are hopeless.”

She marched forwards, scooping her wings forward and hoisting them both off the ground, gripping them tightly. “Come on then, ay-up. Let it all out.”

She patted her wings against both of them, pressing her fluffy cheeks against their downy ones. Eventually Mynahmon wriggled away, still sniffing and wiping her eyes, but just about holding it together. Niwamon still held a whimpering Zenamon in her arms, rocking her back and forth.

“Feeling better?”

Mynahmon nodded, sniffing. “I’m alright. Really.”

“Liar.”

“Well...I have to be, don’t I?”

Niwamon pressed her beak together, looking out over the peak. “What happens now, then?”

Mynahmon turned, rubbing a wing against her beak as she stared down with damaged eyes.

“I don’t know. The worlds are connected now. The human race is out there and they won’t stop coming. We know that. But whatever happens, I have to try.”

She closed her talons, her feathers bristling as she glared.

“No more wars between worlds. No more innocent people getting hurt. We can get past this; find the middle ground, the peace, the understanding; whatever it is that we need. For us and the humans alike. I’m gonna make that peace a reality if it kills me.”

She glanced back, watching her two oldest friends staring out at her.

“But I’m going to need your help.”

Niwamon remained stoic, with Zenamon clutching her chest, looking backwards. But the tiny dove nodded her head.

“No more suffering.”

Niwamon pursed her beak out. “No more injustice.” She smiled. “Of course we’re gonna help. What do you take us for?”

“Thank you. Both of you.”

Mynahmon smiled, and wiped her beak again, looking out across the damaged plain. She closed her eyes, still hearing the screams and the torrents and the great, pained groans from deep beneath the earth. Sounds she’d heard long before now, and sounds she had hoped beyond hope she’d never have to hear again. She opened her eyes, taking a breath.

“It’s what they showed me. What...he...asked of all of us. Someone has to make things right again.”

Simurghmon twitched, and opened her eyes, repressing the memories once again. She looked out into the light beyond, and gently pulled the lip of the curtain, staring down into the endless sky beneath her, still torn from the recent breach. She swayed sideways, feeling her feathers brushing past her face. It may have looked unconventional, true, but she always found she was at her most introspective while hanging upside-down. It gave her clarity. It gave her some sense of perspective.

It also gave her a headache.

With a swift and very athletic move, she flipped herself upright on the curtain rail, before hopping down, landing on the wooden flooring far more delicately than her chimerical form should have allowed. She was large, needing to stoop to avoid hitting her head on the ceiling of the large converted seminar room. Iridescent feathers cascaded down her back like water and trailed behind her as she walked, changing from blue to green to purple as they caught the light in different ways. More feathers stuck out from around her neck like a ruff, looking almost like the petals of a flower, and two sets of wings were folded tightly behind her, tucked in so as not to disturb the cabinets with which she had to share space. Her head was adorned with a vibrant red and blue crest, falling down like hair over her face, which was itself very mammalian in nature.

She reached out, running a padded paw down the table as she walked beside it. The office itself wasn’t an uncomfortable accommodation, but it was in need of a dust. She had considered it, but then again, housekeeping had never been her strongest suit. Besides, she generally managed to collect enough in her feathers by simple diffusion, much to her irritation. She walked back towards the window, pulling the curtain aside and staring out at the city that formed her new home.

The two and a half weeks since the riots had all been a vast blur, even for her. Finding a safe place for a temporary home had been relatively simple, but there was far more vital infrastructure which had received damage and needed urgent attention. Not to mention the many injured and dead who had been found through the streets. The tamers and their partners had helped where they could with the immediate aftermath, but even they hadn’t been able to keep it up forever, eventually relinquishing duties to the correct authorities.

But Simurghmon, Fenghuangmon and Eirenemon had continued, volunteering their time and efforts as needed. People and Digimon alike had to be relocated, tensions quelled, and resources distributed. It was only fair. It was what they had promised.

In amidst all this, the ones leading the riots had all but vanished, slinking back into the woods and warehouses they had arrived from. Simurghmon knew exactly where, and made it a point to keep a very close eye on them. But there had been no movements. The onslaught was over.

Although while Eirenemon’s tranquilising influence was certainly powerful, it couldn’t last forever, no matter how much she wished it could.

The gateway itself was another issue. Between MetalMamemon’s assault and their own forced entry, the doorway had remained wide open for a significant amount of time. This caused its own ripple effects, opening yet more, smaller portals in the surrounding area as weak conduits were ruptured. That had involved a lot of hurried building, gathering parts, frantic communication and frequent apologising to try and get the facility back to some semblance of decent operation. As of now, the gate had been re-suppressed, albeit with none of the level of security it had once had. But it was enough to give them peace of mind. Nothing else was coming through that way yet.

Although, in the intervening week, the sudden opening of the vast corridor to another world had inevitably attracted attention from some slightly more bulky and powerful creatures than could usually squeeze their way through the tears in space, which were of course now causing their own slight issues, one after the other. More work for Alasdair, and for the tamers. And as such, more work for Simurghmon and her companions.

The great bird looked over her shoulder, running her gaze down the whiteboard they’d erected on one wall, with the increasingly large to-do list currently running down one side, across the bottom, up in spikes, before finally extending off the board and onto a series of sheets of paper all taped together.

It was exhausting work. And it made her hungry. And her colleagues were decidedly late.

The door opened with a creak behind her and the mythical bird turned round, narrowing her eyes at her two colleagues as they walked in, each holding two large paper bags full of fast food. They placed them on the table, opening them up as Simurghmon walked over.

“What on earth took you two so long?”

Eirenemon sniffed, pointing sideways. “It was her fault. She was making things awkward.”

Fenghuangmon huffed. “I don’t deny anything but neither do I regret it.”

Fenghuangmon was only slightly shorter than Simurghmon, and slighter in build, with a more avian aspect to her person. She tiptoed around on spindly legs, holding her feathered arms together like the sleeves of a gown. Her plumage was even more fantastic; bright reds, greens and yellows speckled with a spectrum of feather markings like those of a peacock. She held a sealed scroll in her left hand, the casket embossed with gold. She had a flattened beak, a sculpted crest, and narrowed, inscrutable looking eyes that seemed to be throwing accusations at everything and everyone she looked at.

Eirenemon by contrast was much smaller, and held herself very daintily. Her feathers were much shorter and pure pale pink, and she was far more humanoid, with only her short wings, taloned feet and flattened tail feathers giving any real indication of her avian nature. She was ordained in a white chiton lined in beads of gold, and her hair was blond, wrapped tightly beneath a feather head scarf. Her eyes were a deep dark blue, and they stared out from behind a cloth veil that covered her other features.

The dove woman held the conical rhyton around her neck with a nervous fidget, as Simurghmon pulled one of the bags over, pulling out a slightly sunken box of fried chicken. “I did send you with the right cash. I thought you two would have been smart enough to figure it out. We need to keep our energy up, you know.”

Fenghuangmon narrowed her eyes further, pulling out a big tub and pulling out two drumsticks between her talons. She waved the vessel before the larger bird with some irritation. “There were some small disputes.”

“You don’t do small disputes. You do nitpicking.”

“Merely a clash over terminology. Small disputes.”

She placed a drumstick in her mouth, and swallowed it whole. Eirenemon stood looking glumly at the varied feast before her, poking at one of the thighs in the offending bucket. Simurghmon took no notice, gently peeling the breaded coating off the drumstick in her hand.

“I didn’t expect anything miraculous. But we can’t afford to lose our nerve due to lack of sustenance in this world. This contains carbohydrate, protein, and some other mystery ingredient which appears to keep the humans happy. It’s the best we have to stay focused. Please don’t get us banned from another fast food establishment.”

Fenghuangmon folded her arms. “I merely questioned the hygienic aspect of storing food in a bucket. This is not a bucket. It is detrimental advertising and I was merely pointing that out for their benefit.”

“I told you to maintain a calm presence. You didn’t scare anybody, did you?”

“There may have been a few infants that ran screaming out of the door while I was discussing the terminology with the vendor.”

Simurghmon raised a tired eyebrow. Alongside, Eirenemon had lost focus on the chicken, and was gently running a dainty hand over her own feathered thigh.

“...Fenghuangmon, what is our job here?”

“Ambassadorial duties. I am very well aware.” The phoenix held up her palm, and her scroll hovered a few inches in the air, unravelling with her gesture. She spun it around, before pointing at the whiteboard. “I’m the only one keeping notes around here.”

“What part of ambassadorial duties does ‘terrifying the local populace’ fall under?”

“I was completely calm!”

Fenghuangmon bristled, but Eirenemon held up a hand. “To be fair, you did march into the janitor’s cupboard and slam a cleaning bucket down on the counter to make a point.”

“I won’t apologise for false advertising.” The phoenix turned round, pointing down at the box as she looked at her colleague. “Aren’t you going to be eating that?”

Eirenemon looked at the two birds before her, then down at the crispy chicken leering up at her.

“...not to be that person, but don’t either of you think that eating this might be a little morally dubious?”

Simurghmon stripped off another drumstick, before lining it up in the empty box beside her. “How so?”

“I mean...these chickens...they’re birds, right? And well...we’re...birds as well. So...I mean...I don’t know...if we should maybe be eating them...”

Fenghuangmon placed a talon on her chin. “Does it really count as wrong if it’s from another dimension?”

“I don’t know about this...”

“Perhaps it would be different if it was a different bird...”

Simurghmon cleared her throat, closing the box beside her and straightening up. “I feel perhaps we are getting slightly distracted. Eirenemon, eat what you feel comfortable with, but please eat something. We still have a lot of mess to unravel.”

She rolled her fingers, before turning to Fenghuangmon. “Are there any further developments?”

“Some Digimon have returned back to our world, and a few others have located themselves on the outskirts of the city.” Fenghuangmon’s scroll unrolled before her, and she waved her hand over the parchment as several detailed notes flicked into view. “I have told them to inform me if any of the insurgents approach them for any reason, but there still hasn’t been anything on that front.”

Simurghmon leant forwards. “So is that everybody accounted for?”

“There are still four that I know of. Three of them are unfortunate but not unexpected, and the other has already been spotted roosting in the woods.” Fenghuangmon retracted her scroll, closing it with a click. “Should we be retrieving them?”

Simurghmon sighed. “Only if they make themselves known. I’ve asked the tamers to contact us with any skirmishes they get involved in.”

She drew back, but Fenghuangmon whistled a little, her eyes looking upwards. Eirenemon was sat down by this point, sadly poking at a small pot of coleslaw.

“It really makes me feel bad, this.”

“I was reassured that the coleslaw contains no extradimensional bird flesh.”

“No, I mean...we came to stop all this fighting, didn’t we?” Eirenemon looked up, wiping beneath both eyes. “Why are we still on the defensive? People are getting edgy; some are starting to break out into fights again. I could make them all stop; I promise...”

She paused, as Fenghuangmon leant over behind her, embracing her shoulders. “It wiped you out the first time, even with us helping you. You’ve done more than enough to get us to this stage.”

“I agree.” Simurghmon ruffled her neck feathers. “Your power is phenomenal. But it can only be a temporary solution. Aggression can be quelled but deep-seated feelings don’t just go away.”

Eirenemon looked forlorn, holding her shoulders in. Simurghmon smiled sadly, before continuing.

“We need to find some way to get the Digimon and the humans to coexist on their own terms, before we lose our chance. It’s not going to be as easy as just a simple miracle wave.”

Eirenemon stuck her lips out. “I know, I know. But still...it feels bad.”

Behind her, the phoenix straightened up. “If we’re being honest, I’m slightly more concerned whether the humans will hold their own end of this arrangement.”

“Fenghuangmon!”

Simurghmon raised her voice, but the phoenix raised a claw. “I’m merely being honest. I feel that’s more productive right now than hiding my own thoughts. I’m sure many of them are willing, but may not be able. And a few of them are more than capable, but far from willing. That is a dangerous combination for us.”

Simurghmon drummed her talons against the table, looking down at the patterns in the wood. “Then we will need to trust the tamers to be our conduit there. If anybody can unite us in time, it’s going to be them.”

Fenghuangmon and Eirenemon shared looks. The dove woman shrank back a little, so Fenghuangmon spoke what was on both of their minds.

“And are you so sure we can trust them?”

The drumming stopped, and Simurghmon stood tall, giving her old friend a hard stare.

“I would trust them to the ends of the earth. There are humans I owe. More than you will ever know.”

Fenghuangmon rolled her fingers. “And that won’t cloud your judgement at all?”

“Okay, let me turn this around; they’ve been fighting and returning Digimon for the best part of a year now. They stood between our most obsessed and their most vengeful before we arrived, risking their own lives. Tell me, Fenghuangmon, do we have any reason not to trust them?”

Eirenemon shrank down so low that she clutched the edge of the table, her eyes darting between her two oldest friends. “Guys...please...”

“I’m sorry. Both of you.” Fenghuangmon rand a claw down her cheek, her features softening. “I just needed to be sure. But what you’ve said gives me peace of mind.” She tilted her head. “But just be aware, I would still trust you before them.”

“Thanks. And I appreciate your honesty.”

The two let out a breath, and Simurghmon walked forwards, patting Fenghuangmon on the shoulder. “Don’t do that to me too often, alright?”

Eirenemon peered upwards, pointing into Simurghmon’s ruff. “Your...phone? The little device? Anyway, it’s ringing.”

Simurghmon straightened up, daintily reaching inside her feathers and pulling a small white phone up to her face. “Hello?”

She nodded, giving short noises of acknowledgement, before placing the device away. “This rogue refugee. A Cannonbeemon, perchance?”

“Have they found it?”

“It’s found them, by the sound of it.” Simurghmon nodded at the boxes in the middle of the table. “Grab what you need. We have an urgent errand to run.”

The setting sun had melded with the torn sky to create a beautiful prism of lights that soared across the horizon, illuminating the three ambassadors as they flew effortlessly over the rooftops. In less busy circumstances Fenghuangmon might have enjoyed the view, but she found herself scanning the rooftops until she found the flashes of blue and white that she was looking for.

“Over there.”

The three banked sideways, flying in formation and landing on a rooftop just at the edge, staring down into an abandoned construction site. It was hard to miss the runaway Digimon, as it fluttered back and forth, not with visible wings but with some sort of rocket propulsion that burst out from solid metal ones. It looked like a vast armour plated wasp for the most part, with red eyes and a curved tail ending in a glowing blue laser. What was less conventional was the huge container balanced perfectly level upon its back, with several barrels tessellated together in a honeycomb shape; some smoking, some glowing and all making a worrying hum.

“Never the most convenient locales, is it?” Simurghmon sighed, flexing her wings as she braced to take off again. “Shall we deal with this?”

“Simurghmon, wait.”

Fenghuangmon held out an arm, and gestured down to the ground beneath the great insect. “The tamers are already here.”

Indeed they were, or at least, a few of them were. Andriamon lurched sideways as Ceratomon charged forwards, slamming a glancing fist into Cannonbeemon’s tail. The glistening layers of ice over Cannonbeemon’s wings betrayed Alopemon’s presence, and there were glimmers of black and white as Achromon and Luminemon dived back and forth, dodging the bee as she strafed the ground.

“Nitro Stinger!”

The insect’s voice echoed outwards as a solid blast of energy fired out from her tail, clipping Andriamon’s shoulder and burning a trail into the ground. Eirenemon gasped as the salamander stumbled, before watching as Luminemon slammed into the insect, trying to hold her down whilst avoiding her slashing legs. Up above, the dove-woman placed her hands over her face.

“This is horrible. They can’t stop her in their state; they’ve been through too much.”

Simurghmon tilted her head. “These Digimon are tenacious. I believe they can calm her down.”

“Would there be any disadvantage in letting them prove it?”

Eirenemon shot a glare over at Fenghuangmon, but Simurghmon raised a palm, glancing sideways. “What are you thinking?”

The phoenix nodded. “If we’re going to place so much value in them, it would be helpful to understand the extent of their abilities.”

“But that’s not fair!” yelled Eirenemon. “They could get hurt! Or they could hurt Cannonbeemon!”

Fenghuangmon turned towards her. “If we really are going to trust them, then we need to have faith that they won’t.”

“Simurghmon, please, we have to stop this.”

The two other birds looked at their leader, who stood hunched over the rooftop, her four wings blowing in the breeze. She nodded.

“Three minutes. Or until one of them is in significant danger. Then we move.” She looked aside. “Does that give you time to take your notes, Fenghuangmon?”

“Of course. More than enough.”

Eirenemon still looked hurt, but she pulled back with the other two, her black eyes surveying the battle through the evening light.

“Get down!”

“I am! Don’t backseat drive me!”

“Your other down!”

Andriamon’s legs sprung outwards, sending her rolling across the dust away from the laser that had threatened to pierce her through the chest. Cannonbeemon’s head snapped towards her, and she veered round with a buzz, her red eyes glinting.

“Leave me in peace! It’s always you! Always...always coming after us...”

“Icicle Barrage!”

Alopemon jumped into the frame as Cannonbeemon banked upwards, taking another volley of ice to her midriff. She screeched, her entire body vibrating and cracking the frost, but a blaze of light struck her in the back before she could retaliate. The bee swiped sideways, her stinger lashing out and catching Luminemon in the chest, sending her careering into a scaffold.

Down below, Eloise winced as she stood at the front of the upturned skip, with the other four tamers behind her. “This really isn’t the best timing for this kind of thing.”

Lonnie scowled. “I’m trying, I’m trying! But she won’t reach Ultimate level!”

A hand held her shoulder as Grace shook her head. “I think we’re all going to struggle with that. We haven’t had a chance to fully recover yet.”

“I know but...it’s just...gah!” Lonnie flounced for a second, before poking her head out of the skip again, watching as Alopemon flipped over in mid-air, striking the bee with a frosted tail. “We’re supposed to be making a good impression, aren’t we?”

There was a cough from Mark beside her, as he scanned his D-SEND. “We’re supposed to be calming any incidents like this as our main priority. But that involves us actually staying safe ourselves.” His eyes glanced up, and he pointed. “Kai, get Achromon to loop around the building. I’ve had a thought.”

Kai nodded, before whispering into his D-Nexus. The black dragon paused in mid-flight, before doing as obliged, flapping backwards as Cannonbeemon followed his movements. The wyrm re-emerged on the other side, wings glowing with black flames.

“Darkfire Pulse!”

“Photon Cannon!”

Cannonbeemon was caught between the two attacks, the light striking her in the centre of her back. She twisted around, but Luminemon had backed off, and the bee felt Achromon’s claws rake across her side as he flew past. The dragons reconvened, giving each other a quick smile of thanks, but any reassurance was short-lived as Cannonbeemon’s back arched, pointing the canister in their direction.

“Sky Rocket Infinitum!”

The canister glowed, and a wave of blue projectiles shot from the honeycomb, lighting up the sky even as the chaos dragons retreated. They were caught by the blasts, and as they spun uncontrollably they were hit directly by several of the pellets. They spun downwards, intertwined in a spiralling blue display and landing roughly in the dust.

Kai reached forwards, biting his lip. “Colchimon! No!”

“Easy, Kai, he’s taken worse knocks than that.” Eloise kept her nerve, peering up at Cannonbeemon as she strafed around again, releasing one last wave before the canisters packed up, releasing powder-blue smoke. The young woman nodded. “That’s all the ammo this time.”

Mark lowered his D-SEND. “Gently does it. Bring her in.”

“Barberous Blaze!”

“Gyaaagh!”

Cannonbeemon reared back as the bolt of fire shot up from beneath her, exploding just above her head. She toppled away, her vision blinded by Andriamon’s submerged attack, and only just managed to right herself before hitting the ground, angling her wings as she prepared to gain height again, when she juddered to a halt. Ceratomon stood below her, arms wrapped around the base of her stinger as his tail swung back and forth.

“Now! Anybody!”

“Icicle Barrage!”

Cannonbeemon swayed as a volley of ice struck her chest and abdomen, locking several joints in place, but she redoubled her efforts and the ice began to crack, falling away. Ceratomon jerked and slid forwards several feet, as Andriamon leapt behind him and launched herself onto the bee’s back, grabbing hold of her face. “We really need a more permanent solution here!”

There was a coughing from behind them as Achromon pulled himself out from the burning pile of scaffolding, shaking dust from his cracked wings. “Please can we have five seconds!?”

“We don’t have five sec-urgh!”

Andriamon slid sideways, rolling off the bee’s shoulder as she twisted in mid-air. The movement pulled her from Ceratomon’s grip, and she very slowly rose, shaking her body as she tried to get rid of the remaining ice. Ceratomon lunged for her again, but she was just out of reach, heading off into the evening sky.

A shadow fell across her path, blocking out the light from the setting sun. Cannonbeemon paused, her body shaking as Simurghmon’s wings spread in front of her, the feathers shimmering with a dozen colours as the ambassador held her arms up.

“Grand Gaokerena!”

With an immense tremor, the earth was split as a vast tree shot from the ground, growing blossoms and fruits and seeds in an instant as it twisted towards the sky. Cannonbeemon veered sideways, but Simurghmon thrust an arm out, the tree growing in that same direction. The great insect curved round, finding herself rounded up in a circle, with the great branches lashing out at her when she came too close. Soon the only way out was up, but that was blocked as well. Not by Simurghmon, who stood atop the great tree, but by Fenghuangmon, who hung gently in mid-air. Cannonbeemon twisted, pointing the canister straight upwards as she tried desperately to recharge.

“I don’t get it! What are you doing here? Leave me alone!”

Fenghuangmon didn’t react; she just hovered, completely still, muttering under her breath as she ran a finger across her scroll case. It twisted, and opened, unfolding five orbs of coloured light, which twisted round her arm in a circle

“Celestial Chain!”

Her eyes flashed, and she brought her arm down, the orbs descending with her. As they fell they grew, becoming vast, swirling planets of energy, descending upon the insect before she could even think. They struck her in the centre of the body with the yellow one at the head, and a great blast of lightning struck through the sky, shaking the branches of Simurghmon’s tree, as well as the surrounding earth.

Cannonbeemon fell with a thud on the ground, with her canister cracked, and scorch marks adorning her armour. She shook, her head twitching back and forth as she stared up in terror at the two ambassadors.

“No...no, no, no NO! This is a LIE! You...you can’t...”

“White Lightning!”

A series of threads shot forwards, enveloping Cannonbeemon and pulling her down against the dust. She struggled, but there was a flash of blue around her, and soon she was frozen in place, her wings completely solid. Andriamon rushed forwards, looking back at Luminemon, who was stood behind the insect, straining and glaring forwards.

“Happy now?”

The salamander scratched behind her head. “I think we’ve probably got the hang of this...”

There was a rustling from above her, and she blinked, the sun getting in her eyes as Simurghmon hovered down to the ground. As she touched the earth, the great tree retracted into it, not even leaving a crack in the dusty ground.

Fenghuangmon descended as well, landing lightly on Cannonbeemon’s chest. The insect was shuddering violently, waving helplessly at the air as the phoenix glared down. But Fenghuangmon stepped back, allowing room for Eirenemon to step in front of her. The phoenix held her colleague’s shoulder, and Eirenemon reached out in turn, placing a palm on Cannonbeemon’s forehead.

“Peacemaker.”

There was a gentle white glow, the flicker of flames, and Cannonbeemon relaxed in an instant, her red eyes losing their lustre. She rolled, Luminemon releasing her hold and collapsing to her knees, with Achromon supporting her.

Simurghmon landed as well, brushing the dust from her knees. She turned, smiling at the tamers as they walked forwards. “Thank you very much for your assistance.”

Lonnie grinned sheepishly, rubbing behind her head. “Aw...it was nothing.”

“You’re right. It really was nothing.” Mark folded his arms, huffing under his breath. “We barely made any impact.”

Simurghmon looked exhausted. “When are you people going to learn to love yourselves?”

“When we’re actually worth it?”

Eloise gave an irritated expression, and nudged Mark firmly in the side, but it did little to snap him out of his blatant pessimism. Simurghmon sighed, and turned around, shrugging at the others. Eirenemon was gently caressing the CannonBeemon’s head, whispering into her ear. That just left Fenghuangmon, who found herself at the receiving end of Simurghmon’s desperate plea for assistance. The phoenix sighed, before addressing the tamers in turn. “She’s a difficult opponent to have. Congratulations are in order. You are all very good to us.”

Kai placed a hand in his pocket. “I assume you’ll be taking charge now?”

“We’ll guide her back into the digital world. It’s a safer place for her. For the moment at least.”

“If you’re sure...”

“Fairly sure.” Simurghmon nodded sideways, towards where the tamers’ partners had all devolved, and were lying in a battered pile, not quite in a fit state to move just yet. “Besides, you may want to take the remainder of the night to rest. It looks like you’ve been through quite an ordeal.”

“Seriously, that’s normal.”

Eirenemon leaned back, her black eyes blinking concernedly. “Please look after yourselves! We don’t want you to get hurt on our account!”

“Come on, Eirenemon. Let’s go. They could use some respite.”

Simurghmon turned, and together the three ambassadors lifted Cannonbeemon into the air, where she hovered of her own accord, pacified. The tamers watched as they rose up, flapping into the sky in formation, before disappearing over the lip of the nearest building. Grace let out a sigh, and held the bridge of her nose.

“I can’t tell whether this is more or less stressful than the all-out war.”

“We have help now, don’t we?” Lonnie turned around, leaning forwards. “Surely that has to count for something.”

As reassuring as she sounded, it was clear that the others couldn’t quite share her enthusiasm. But the evening had been long, and tiring, and frankly nobody had any energy left to argue.

The sun had set for good by the time the three ambassadors reached the facility, with the floodlights illuminating their bright bodies, and reflecting off the Cannonbeemon’s flank. She buzzed in distress, and Eirenemon hovered next to her, gently stroking the top of her head.

Simurghmon landed, and pressed her palm against a panel against the hastily-raised temporary barrier. There was a crackle, and a voice came out from the tannoy.

“Is it you again?”

“No surprises here.” Simurghmon said tiredly. “We’ve got another refugee who needs to go back through.”

There was a pause, before Salma’s voice sounded again. “You’d better come in then.”

The line went dead, and Simurghmon let out a long breath. ”No need for the attitude. We’re only trying to help.”

“Simurghmon, look.”

The great bird looked in the direction Fenghuangmon was pointing, at a black taxi stopped on the roadside. Alasdair was stopped just behind it, and he rolled his wheelchair forwards slightly, nodding in greeting. Simurghmon felt a twinge in her chest, and pulled at the feathers on her arm. Fenghuangmon saw the other ambassador’s reaction, and gave a short cough.

“Do you need a moment?”

“I need more than that.” Simurghmon turned to the other two, her face grave. “I can’t put this off any longer. Please help our friend home by yourselves. I’ll catch up with you later.”

“Of course.”

Fenghuangmon stepped back, standing with Eirenemon as they watched their leader walk slowly up towards Alasdair. They shared a few words, too far away to make out. Then Alasdair got back inside, and the taxi drove away. Simurghmon spread her wings and took flight, keeping pace just above as she disappeared over the skyline.

Eirenemon stared at the whole display, still holding a hand on Cannonbeemon’s head. Fenghuangmon just let out a sigh. “How troublesome to have a history.”

Eirenemon opened her mouth, but the gate suddenly swung open, revealing Salma standing just behind. She looked up at the bee, trying to hide the exhaustion on her face.

“I understand you need some help.”

“I’ve been so scared...I didn’t know what to do...”

“Sssh...shush...shush. It’s going to be okay. I promise.”

Eirenemon hovered gently in front of Cannonbeemon, her powerful words coursing around the insect’s head as her buzzes turned to a mild purring sound. Fenghuangmon rested a hand on the edge of the computer partition, watching as her friend kept the bee placid. Perez leant back, rubbing her hands in front of her. “She’s quite something, isn’t she?”

“She is a remarkable Digimon to work with.” Fenghuangmon replied quietly, her shoulders relaxing for a second. There came a beep from behind her, and Dominic’s voice came from the far side of the PC bank. “We’ve set the right size parameters.”

The phoenix stiffened again, and turned around. “Can’t you move a little closer?”

“That...may well not happen.” Perez scratched her cheek. “He has a bit of a thing about bees.”

To accentuate the point, Dominic held up a thumb, his face plastered with a massive, panicked smile. “To be honest, I can’t believe I’ve made it this far without throwing up!”

A gruff Salma walked past, placing an interlock key in the facility door and pushing it open single-handedly. “Enough with the friendly talk; it’s late and I don’t have the patience to be here for much longer.”

Her eyes met Fenghuangmon’s, and she gave a forced smile. “No offense.”

“None taken. However please do something about your workplace stress levels; I gather it’s unhealthy.”

Eirenemon gave her companion a worried look to counter out the practically lethal one she was now getting from Salma. The phoenix looked between them, and shrugged. “I read books. I’m being honest.”

Click.

Salma pulled the door open with one hand, gently walking sideways as she mentally counted to twenty. She took a breath, and peered inside, taking just a glance of the resealed gateway. Perez looked up from her screen. “Interlocks are engaged. Take her inside and we can open up.”

Eirenemon jumped down, and gently led the great insect forwards. She hesitated a little, buzzing under her breath, but the dove-woman reached up and stroked beneath her chin.

“It’ll be alright. You don’t have to wait for us for long. We’ll be coming back for you.”

Salma raised her gaze as Cannonbeemon was led inside, and the door was shut behind her. She and Fenghuangmon peered through the tinted window, as Perez twisted a key on the side of her desk. There came an ominous roar and a slight whistle through the cracks and gaps in the hurriedly reassembled facility, and the gate flashed into life, flooding the area with its influence. Cannonbeemon’s form shivered, dematerialising and being whisked away into the controlled vortex, with Eirenemon waving her goodbye.

“You’ve really gotten a handle on this gate technology.”

“It’s easy in our world. The gate stays in the same place.” Salma glanced upwards at Fenghuangmon, before tilting her head from side to side. “Still, it’s all fairly new. And a lot of it is rather makeshift, even before we had to put it all back together with gaffa tape.” She looked away, and tsked. “Thank you for your help with that.”

“You needed it working.”

“It’s working better than ever. We’ve never had enough control over it to be able to send Digimon home through this particular portal.”

There was another hiss as Eirenemon stepped out, the gate resealed behind her. She looked slightly forlorn, but smiled nonetheless, her black eyes blinking. “It all went as it was supposed to.”

Salma placed a hand behind her head. “Anything else?”

“We’ve already intruded on you enough,” said Fenghuangmon, giving a polite bow. “Thank you for your assistance, as always.”

“No problem whatsoever.”

“Possibly consider acquiring some sleep.”

Salma pressed her lips together, raising an eyebrow as she watched Fenghuangmon and Eirenemon leave the control room. She heard the sound of sniggering behind her, and raised a pointed finger at her two wards.

“Before you even think of commenting, remember that I technically hire you two and I will make you clear up the document shelves.”

Fenghuangmon sighed as she walked through the back roads away from the facility, turning a corner and tapping away at the scroll as it floated beside her.

“Humans really are the most irrational creatures sometimes. Don’t you think-“

She paused, feeling something tugging at the back of her robe. She gently slowed to a stop, and Eirenemon held on behind her, leaning forwards and resting her head on the phoenix’s back.

“Is something wrong?”

Eirenemon sniffed, and wiped some tears from the corners of her eyes. “It isn’t fair, this. We keep promising them we’ll make it right for them, but that world we promised SImurghmon just seems...so far away...”

“...I know.”

“And we’re running out of time.”

“I know.”

Eirenemon reached forwards, clamping her hands around her companion’s back and holding her tightly. Fenghuangmon turned round, and returned the gesture, gently rocking Eirenemon back and forth.

“You know they can’t all stay here. This world isn’t ready yet. Sending them home is the lesser of two evils right now. But this was only ever going to be a temporary fix.”

Eirenemon stared up, her eyes flicking between Fenghuangmon’s piercing ones. “But can we actually fix it? Properly? Before it’s too late? Can...can the tamers actually do anything to help?”

Fenghuangmon flicked her hand, and the scroll entered back into her robe. “We have to try. And we have to believe that they can.” She glanced up, staring into the middle distance. “Before it no longer becomes an option.”

Eirenemon kept holding on, burying her face into Fenghuangmon’s chest feathers. They swayed for a little, before Fenghuangmon tapped the dove-woman’s shoulder.

“Come on, girl. Ay-up.” She raised Eirenemon’s chin up, and gently brushed the sides of her eyes with a gentle talon. “Let’s go home, alright?”

She turned, her talons clipping against the ground, when she felt Eirenemon tug at her sleeve once again.

“Fenghuangmon, wait. There’s...there’s somebody there.”

The two paused, looking aside down the path. There were a couple of benches sat aside from the path, glistening in the evening frost. There was a dark shape curled up on one of them, sleeping defiantly against the cold.

Fenghuangmon and Eirenemon gently walked forwards, looking over the huddled human form, short clouds of breath coming from beneath the dark fleece. The dove woman averted her gaze.

“Poor man.”

“Indeed.” Fenghuangmon sighed. “How regrettable the damage was that day.”

“Can’t we help him?”

Eirenemon looked pleadingly up into Fenghuangmon’s eyes, but the phoenix merely shook her head sadly.

“This isn’t our world. He’s already home.”

There was a rustling, and the two ambassadors stepped back as the human turned over, the hood falling away from his face.

“Wait a minute.”

Fenghuangmon turned her head, and held her palm up, the scroll rolling away.

“I...I know who you are...”

Eirenemon looked up as Fenghuangmon turned the scroll over, before pausing on a blank page. She stayed there, watching the details appear, and glancing back and forth between the page and the man. Eirenemon reached up, and tugged at her colleague’s sleeve.

“Fenghuangmon?”

“I’m fine. I’m...”

Eirenemon swallowed, and gently reached out, her palm curling around Eirenemon’s shoulder.

“...wake him up, will you? Go on. Ask him if he’ll come back with us.”

“Um...by ask, do you mean...”

“Only if you need to.”

Eirenemon shuffled, her fingers going to the rhyton around her neck. She looked up for support, but found herself staring into Fenghuangmon’s piercing eyes, a warm glow emanating from them. The phoenix smiled.

“We may be able to help him after all.”

Alasdair wheeled forwards slowly, feeling the slight chill of the evening air as it blew around the park. Despite the dim light it looked remarkably colourful, with blossoms already appearing around him. Although, he thought, that was like due to the presence of the great bird woman as she sat hunched over on the bench ahead of him.

The man turned to face her, clasping his hands. “I’m sorry it’s taken so long. Things got in the way.”

Simurghmon waved a hand. “It’s nothing to worry about. You had your duty to clean up some of this mess. As did I.”

The man gave a half-hearted smile. “Well, you made it here now. How do you find it?”

“Slightly grey. Difficult to find places.” Simurghmon raised an eyebrow. “Everybody’s a little bit tense.”

She stared hard at him, to the point where he found he had to back away, gripping the armrest of his chair. Simurghmon looked down.

“Why didn’t you let us help sooner?”

“We weren’t ready for this. For you.”

“People have died, Alasdair. People from both our worlds.”

“I had to make decisions. I thought it was for the best to prolong the time we had before...”

“Before it all came crashing together anyway?”

Alasdair nodded. Simurghmon sighed, rubbing her chin. “That was always the thing about you. Too much need to do things on your own. To drive things on your own. Too much pride.”

“Possibly.” Alasdair leant back. “But, you have to admit, we’ve gotten some very capable tamers out of it.”

“That you have. That’s one thing which has gotten better with the years.”

“Yes, well...anything better than I was is an improvement.”

He turned slightly, hearing Simurghmon stepping towards him. She reached out, gently holding his chin and turning him to face her.

“Don’t even say that. You did absolutely everything you could back then. And you still are. If you’re going to carry on fighting with that same stubbornness, then carry on out of hope, not despair.” The bird smiled. “Trust me. My companions beat that into me nearly every day.”

Alasdair looked down for a few seconds, but he could hold it no longer, finding himself staring into Simurghmon’s emerald green eyes, the warmth reflecting in his own. He cracked, laughing heartily.

“You have no idea how much I’ve missed you all, Mynahmon...”

“You too, Ali, you too. All of you.”

Alasdair leaned up, and held his arms around Simurghmon’s chest as she crouched down over him. It was an awkward gesture, and the old man soon found himself straining more than he wanted to, and sat back, rubbing the small of his back. Simurghmon straightened up a little, towering over him, but still looking a little sheepish.

“So...where exactly does this leave us? What can we do?”

Alasdair rubbed his chin. “I suppose carry on as we were. Try and form some idea of peace in this world.”

“Set your goals realistically, why don’t you.”

“Look who’s talking, coming over here speaking on behalf of the whole digital world.”

“Yes, well...they need a voice too. We all do. Especially when our hands are forced like this.” Simurghmon purred gently deep within her throat. “I’m sorry. You may have wanted to hold on but we really couldn’t anymore.”

“He’s moving?”

“He’s speeding up. And the world is being torn apart. At somepoint, we’re all going to have to escape.”

Alasdair’s eyes were half-closed, his arms resting on his knees. He closed his right fist, his body stiffening.

“You know that, right?”

“...of course I do.”

He sighed, turning and looking through the treeline, where the lights of the town were coming on one by one.

“I wish I could give you the answer you needed. That I...still need. One solution to make everything right.”

“You promised me heroes.”

“And I know they can find a way to fix it; they’re wonderful, talented, brilliant people, every one of them. But...I felt it, Mynahmon.” He stared up at the moon, his eyes twitching. “I still don’t think they’re enough. Not yet.”

Simurghmon pressed her lips out. “Perhaps you just need a little faith?”

“I tried faith the first time. And the second. Because of that, I can’t...I can’t give you the closure you need right now. I’m sorry.”

There was no reply. Alasdair closed his eyes, before turning round, looking up into the great bird’s eyes. Simurghmon seemed to have shrunk, her posture completely closed up.

“...Ali...I know you told me it...it was only going to be you...”

She tightened her arms, staring into his eyes.

“I have to know. Please. I...I have to see for myself.” She clutched her fingers. “Can you take me to her?”

Alasdair stared at the ground. Simurghmon could hear his deep breaths, and feel the gentle energy coming from his chest, where she could see the outline of an old, old digivice. The man looked up, and his eyes were tired.

“If you can carry me, I’ll show you the way.”

“Of course.”

“Myn...Simurghmon?”

The bird looked down at him, watching his arms coming together.

“I’m really, truly sorry.”

“Daiii...”

Mark raised an eyebrow at the noise, and looked back at Lonnie as she twisted her arm into an unnatural position. “Stiff?”

“It’s all this running and hiding and crouching without much rest. It’s a killer on the arms.” Lonnie jerked sideways mid-step, and there came a satisfying – if disconcerting – crack from her shoulder.

“Aah, that’s better.”

Mark raised a hand to his temple. “Please try not to injure yourself. I think you’re pretty much carrying half of all our motivation at the moment.”

“And the problem is?” Lonnie smirked, before looking behind her, beckoning towards her partner. “Come on Dendromon.”

The salamander shuffled forwards at quite a speed, looking over her shoulder as she saw the lights around her. Lonnie held her hand, helping her to keep pace. “It’s alright. Don’t look so grim all of a sudden.”

Dendromon pulled her hand away. “I’m just not used to all this, you know.”

“Y-yeah. I know what you mean.” Chromon hunched forwards slightly as he walked slightly closer to his partner. “I d-d-don’t like it when people stare.”

Indeed people were. Despite the darkness of this January evening, there were a few people out and about running last minute errands. Many just walked past, but a few slowed down, watching as the two Digimon walked, unshimmering and in plain sight next to their unmasked partners. Mark took note of one couple speeding up, and let out a sigh.

“Just bear with it. These things take time; we all have to let it.”

“Yeah, he’s right.” Lonnie grinned, holding her hands behind her head as she turned a corner. “We’ve got three cool harpy ladies looking out for us now. It can only get easier.”

“Well...I wouldn’t necessarily go that far...”

Lonnie raised an eyebrow, and walked forwards, keeping pace with Mark. “You don’t trust them? They saved our lives.”

“Just because somebody’s saved us doesn’t mean that they’re only looking out for us.”

Lonnie stuck her lips out. “You make me sad.”

“Call it force of habit.” Mark gave a wry smile. “I admit, I do trust their intentions, I think.” He sighed. “But that’s the other thing. Just because someone has the right intentions doesn’t mean they’re going to give us what we need. You understand that, don’t you?”

Mark turned, landing Lonnie with a solemn stare. The girl thought for a little bit, before looking up at the dark sky.

“Yeah, I understand more than you give me credit for, you know. Call me naive, or childish. But honestly, at some point I have to put my faith in somebody. It might not work out, but I’m willing to put my life on the line that it will.” She tilted her head. “Am I wrong for doing that?”

Mark huffed, and placed his hands in his pockets. “I couldn’t say. I’ve been wrong more times than you have.”

“Ooh, shall we make it a competition?”

“No thank you.”

Jack looked up from the sofa as he heard the door open, followed by a scuffle as Ember and Sky went to greet their old friend Vulpimon and tell her through the medium of kisses just how much they’d missed her. After a few frantic seconds, Grace turned the corner, entering the living room and giving her brother a smile.

“How’s it going?”

“How do you think?”

Jack raised two palms, gesturing at the wad of dressing around his knee. Grace bit her lip. “Is it any better?”

“It’s bloody typical, this,” snorted Jack. “Get through a whole morning of flying around fixing things, and what finally sets the injury off? Carrying the shopping inside.”

“I’m sorry. I would have stayed if you wanted.”

Jack waved a palm. “They need you out there. Besides, somebody needs to keep the Gallant name in the picture. I’m alright. Really.”

Grace watched as he turned towards the wall, folding his arms and staring upwards, and looking decidedly less alright that he made out. There was a bang against the conservatory window, before Perimon hopped in quietly, sneaking into the kitchen to raid the breadbin. Grace sighed, and leant back against the piano.

“You didn’t miss too much anyway. Simurghmon and the girls came in and took over.”

“They’re being thorough.” Jack raised a curious eyebrow. “What do you think? Is it a good thing?”

“Maybe. I don’t know.” Grace smirked. “Honestly, if they’re doing all the heavy lifting then I don’t really have the excuse not to spend time with Nicholas now, do I...”

“I thought you were seeing him this week?”

“He had to pull out. Some urgent business to deal with. Maybe Sunday.”

Jack tutted under his breath. “You’d better watch out, y’know. It’s gonna turn out he has some secret double life after all.”

He laughed at his own comment, but Grace merely made an uncomfortable face, looking sideways. Jack sighed.

“I was kidding.”

Grace started, before smiling in return.

“Oh, I know.”

The computer screen was the only source of light in the bedroom as Inez typed away, adding paragraph after paragraph to her college assignment. She wasn’t really paying attention to what she was writing. She didn’t even know if they were going to be accepting after everything that had happened. She just wrote, her eyes staring ahead at the screen, ignoring all the spelling mistakes.

Her hand slipped, and she accidentally opened a new document. Her hands fell sideways, and she leant back, puffing out her cheeks as she stared at the ceiling. Without her glasses the paint marks swirled like water in her vision, and she became aware of her own breathing.

“Inez, are you okay?”

The girl swivelled round, looking down at Syngnamon as he stood at her feet, mane glistening slightly from his time in the tank. He bowed his head. “You’ve been doing that for a while. I know you wanted to join the others...”

Inez sighed, and brought her glasses up, turning her partner’s fuzzy image into his normal svelte one. She leant back. “I have to do something productive. I can’t fight properly right now, but just giving up on everything again isn’t going to help anybody.”

Syngnamon pressed his lips together. “Look...about the battle...and everything...those are my failings. It’s not your fault, you know that. Right?”

He looked up, his eyes not meeting Inez’s as she looked away.

“Right, Inez?”

She sighed, looking incredibly tired. “You’re doing great, Syngnamon. You have nothing to worry about.”

“Inez...”

He reached out, but the girl turned back, pulling her coursework back up. “We’ll go out next time. We’ll catch up with everyone. I promise. I’m okay now.”

Syngnamon stood behind the girl’s chair for a few seconds, only seeing the back of her head. He waited regardless, hoping for anything. An answer? An acknowledgement? Something else he didn’t deserve?

When he got nothing, he turned around, and gently coiled himself up beneath the girl’s windowsill, staring across the carpet with dully lit eyes. The computer screen reflected inside them, illuminating the silhouette of his partner.

He was sure he could still see the slight tremble of her shoulders.

Eloise stretched out one aching leg after another in front of her as Ladomon draped herself over the young woman’s neck.

“You’re not too burnt after all that, are you?”

The serpent nodded her head from side to side. “Stings a bit. I’m just out of practise.”

“You’re telling me. I never thought being twenty would feel this old and tiring.”

She leant back, staring up at the ceiling, through which she could hear the same frantic violin playing she’d been hearing for the past hour or so. Eloise closed her eyes, but the instrument burrowed further into her head, until she could take it no longer.

“’Sake, I’ve told her we live on a terrace. It’s too late for this.”

She stood up hurriedly, with Ladomon tumbling off her with a little squeak. The door opened as she walked forwards, very nearly colliding with Kai as he spun around with two slightly-too-full mugs of tea. “Where are you off to?”

“To have a little word about etiquette.”

“Be gentle, please.”

Kai heard Eloise’s footsteps up the stairs, and he winced, his glasses falling down his nose a little. Ladomon rolled over on the sofa behind him, coiling herself up around Duke. “You can tell she’s been doing too much of late, can’t you.”

Kai sighed, placing the mugs down. “The life of a student seems like a terrifying one as far as I’m concerned.” He raised an eyebrow. “The fact we’re picking up Digimon issues again isn’t really helping matters either. I’m with her on that one.”

There was a slight hissing sound over his head, and Colchimon swooped down, coiling himself up next to Ladomon as he stared up at his partner. “You could leave it to the others.”

“It’s not really a good time for that.” Kai leant back, placing his hands behind his head. “They need us. I guess they always will, to a point.”

Ladomon and Colchimon shared a glance, but neither had anything to say. Ladomon just tightened her grip around the soft toy, resting her muzzle in his fluff.

“If it makes you feel any better, you two aren’t the only ones who feel old.”

“Speak for yourself,” huffed Colchimon, puffing out his chest. “I am clearly in the prime of my life.”

“You spent two hours in a hot sink last night complaining about wing pain.”

“I’m allowed my luxuries as well.”

Eloise opened the spare room door to see Lyra lying backwards on the bed, plucking her violin without even looking at the board. As impressive as the sight was, Eloise couldn’t hide the narked expression on her face. She leant against the doorframe, folding her arms.

“Lyra, what time is it?”

Lyra looked backwards, upside-down at the young woman. “Showtime?”

“Eight o’clock. That’s what we agreed.”

“Nyaaagh.” Lyra sat up, resting the instrument beside her in a particularly flouncy manner. “I’m allowed my own space, you know.”

“So are we. And the neighbours. No matter how well you play.”

Lyra sat up, legs crossed and staring into the mirror. Her face was bunched up, clearly not happy with the situation.

“I need to do something, you know.”

Eloise raised an eyebrow. “Well, you could always come out and join us with the Digimon incidents from time to time.”

“I did that once. It was horrible.”

“Practice is good for you.” Eloise held the door handle, her voice softening slightly. “I can’t tell you what to do, but we could all use your help, you know. If you can learn to play like that, you can learn to stand up for yourself as well.”

Lyra turned her head, sticking her tongue out, but the door had already closed with a click. She swivelled, lying back down and staring at the ceiling as she muttered to herself.

“It’s alright for you. You know what you’re getting into. You have people who look out for you. People who care for you.”

She held a hand up to her throat, feeling the slight sting of the fresh pink scar that ran across one side. She swallowed, and winced.

“I just have people out for my blood.”

She turned her head, watching Tsurumon standing on one leg in the corner of the room, his beady eyes fixed upon her. She scowled. “What are you giving me that look for?”

“What look?”

“The one where you don’t entirely agree with what I’m saying or doing but you’re content just to watch me suffer until I realise that I’m being a dick.”

Tsurumon tilted his head slightly, before twisting on his one leg, staying perfectly balanced as always.

“I didn’t say a word.”

The door clicked, and Eirenemon looked up as Simurghmon walked in, closing it behind her. She shivered a little, droplets of the night fog falling from her feathers. Eirenemon stood up.

“How did it go?”

There was no reply. Eirenemon held her torch tightly, hovering just behind Simurghmon’s back. The grand bird finally turned around, looking back at Eirenemon with red raw eyes. Eirenemon bowed her head.

“Simurghmon...are you okay?”

“...I thought I was prepared to see her again...”

Simurghmon took in a breath, before looking up, brushing her wings out. “We’ve got a lot of work to do. We need to make things right.”

She walked past into the rear office, with Eirenemon watching her movements. There were footsteps beside her, and Fenghuangmon stood next to her, her scroll unravelled by her side.

“What do you think happened?”

Fenghuangmon sighed. “Human affairs are complicated. I wouldn’t know where to start.” She blinked. “However, she’s right. There is still much to be done.”

She shuffled, and Simurghmon noticed her odd movements, looking at her in a puzzled expression. Fenghuangmon cleared her throat.

“Not that I have any wish to add to those things, but...we found somebody. He needed help.”

“So does everybody these days.” Simurghmon leant back against the wall, folding her arms. “Well?”

Fenghuangmon blinked, before standing up, looking towards the back door. “You can come in. She won’t bite, regardless of appearance.”

There was a click, and the door opened, revealing the young man beyond. His skin was ashen, and he carried a tattered holdall over his shoulder. He hadn’t shaved, and his eyes were dark from many sleepless nights. Simurghmon held back a little, her eyes wide.

“I know who you are...”

Owen looked up weakly. “Someone’s been gossiping, huh?”

The mythical bird remained impassive. “We were told you had gone missing, Owen. Why have you come to us?”

The young man swayed a little, holding out an arm and resting himself on the doorframe. Fenghuangmon glanced over at Eirenemon as she walked over, placing a hand on his shoulder. The young man swallowed, shaking his head a little.

“I...I need your help. I need...somewhere safe, and I don’t know where else to go. You said you were going to help this world.” His gaze met Simurghmon’s almost pleading. “Is there space for me?”

“Do your friends know you’re here?”

“They don’t know where I am. It’s better that they don’t.”

“That’s debatable...”

Simurghmon glanced at Fenghuangmon, but the phoenix was impenetrable as always. Simurghmon sighed, and walked towards the young man, her wings fluttering behind her.

“Of course we can help you. There’s enough room around here.”

Owen shivered, feeling swamped by the grand feathers billowing around him. “Th...thank you.”

Simurghmon smiled warmly, gently walking him through the office and into the back room. “It’s as you said. We’re here to help. Please stay, rest, and we’ll do whatever you need from us.”

She paused, looking over her shoulder, before closing the door behind her and Owen. Eirenemon shuffled forwards, and stood by the phoenix, looking up at her. “Are you sure this is alright?”

Fenghuangmon’s gaze was as inscrutable as always. “There’s a lot of hurt still out there at the moment, Eirenemon. We have to offer what we are able. That’s what we came here for.”

“But why him?” Eirenemon blurted out, her hand going to her torch. “Why...why did you get me to...persuade him...of all people?”

Fenghuangmon bowed her head, gently closing her scroll with a click.

“Because with any luck, he may be able to provide us some help in return...”