The rumble of the flames grew louder behind them as the group hurried forwards, avoiding the tremors and piles of rubble all around. There were only about twenty; a couple of families including Harriet and Courtney’s, and several Digimon. Most of them were moving, if disorientated by the sudden explosion. Lonnie led the way as Lyra hurried up behind her.

“Of all the times...I thought that thing was dead.”

Lonnie sucked her cheeks in. “Aaron and Velocimon are handling it. We just need to get everyone else to safety.”

“But you remember how he was. You think he just happened to turn up like this?”

Andriamon looked over her shoulder. “You think somebody else is behind this?”

“I don’t know anymore,” said Lyra, holding her hands in. “Nothing makes sense. The world’s falling apart and everyone seems to be out to help it along.”

“Hey, look out!”

“Agh!”

Lyra turned, as she saw the Woodmon hunched over, shaking in the arms of a lone Orcamon. A couple of the In-Trainings had fallen out, and were currently laid out on the pavement, crying their eyes out.

“I can’t...I can’t do this...” The Woodmon’s eyes stared outwards, his entire body shaking. “He’s here...he’s gonna come for me...”

“Sssh, ssh...” The Orcamon looked around, concern in her eyes as she tried to pull the Digimon forwards, aware of the group of staring eyes. “It’s gonna be fine, really.”

“It was all burning again!” ” His eyes flicked sideways, and he saw his fallen wards. “ The children!”

“Calm down!”

The Woodmon lurched forwards, arms reaching out for the two, but his movements were wild and he ended up knocking Harriet. She yelled, backing away as she held a hand to her arm, the Digimon’s rough skin having scraped her.

“Harriet!”

“Woodmon!”

The Orcamon clutched her friend, holding tightly as the shaking slowly subsided. She turned back, her eyes wide.

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry; it’s...we’ve...there was something terrible that happened in our world and he’s...he’s still feeling the trauma.”

“Something terrible?” A woman pushed forwards; Harriet’s mother, a dark look in her eyes as she thrust her finger out. “Something terrible is happening here you arseholes!”

Harriet held up an arm. “Mum, please don’t-“

“Shouldn’t you be used to it by now? Isn’t this the kind of world you live in?” The woman ground her teeth together. “None of this would be happening here if you monsters hadn’t come in the first place!”

The Woodmon moaned, but the Orcamon twitched, twisting around. “We didn’t have a choice! If we stayed we were going to be killed!”

“What does it matter? Have you seen what’s out there?” The woman stepped back, shaking her head. “We’re...we’re all going to die here anyway now...and it’s all your fault!”

At the front, Lyra swallowed, and stepped back towards the group. The evacuees had split themselves apart now, the humans families huddling together and the Digimon forming a wall. Several of the children were crying now. Lyra held up her palms.

“Hey, hey, calm it down, please. We don’t have time for this. We need to keep moving-“

“Who put you in charge?”

Harriet’s mother whirled round, her eyes wild as she looked at Lyra’s startled face. “You’re...you’re no-one! None of you are! You’re all just children; how the hell are you gonna stop any of this?”

Lyra bit her lip as Tsurumon looked up concernedly. “We’re...doing everything we can-“

“Look at everything! It’s all going to hell, and we’re supposed to expect you to help? You haven’t been able to stop a goddamn thing!”

Lyra’s eyes flicked towards the Digimon, but they were looking at her now, their eyes hard, almost expectantly. And again from the rest of the humans, save for a few, looking down, not meeting her gaze.

“I...we...”

“You’ve been doing everything you can? That’s great. Absolutely wonderful, except it’s...look at it, it’s pointless? It’s not enough! You don’t have any power to save any of us now!”

“Do you think I don’t know that?” screamed Lyra, burying her head in her hands. The outburst was louder than ever, silencing the woman in her tracks.

“I...I want to say we have things under control, I really do. But I can’t. We don’t. We haven’t and I...just...how am I supposed to reassure any of you when I agree with you?”

A hand held her shoulder. Lonnie stepped forwards, her face flashing a weak, but comforting smile at the other tamer.

Then she turned, and addressed the group with a burnished stare.

“I know we’re young, and we’ve made mistakes. And we owe a lot to you all because of that, so we need you to help us make good on what we owe. It’s not great. But at the moment you haven’t got anyone else. So in order to let us help you, we need you all to get out of here. All of you, safely.”

She walked forwards, and reached down, scooping up the two baby Digimon in her hands. She held them out, placing them within Woodmon’s hollow arm, where they snuggled back in with the rest of their group, giving little scared whimpers. Lonnie stood up, and looked back at Harriet’s mother.

“We can fix this. And we will. But we need you to let us.”

The words rang hollow. Hovering over the group around them, and fizzling out emptily. Lyra glanced aside at Lonnie, seeing the other woman’s smile wavering even as she stood firm.

“How are you people still able to lie so comfortably?”

Lonnie froze. So did Lyra, gently lowering her hands as her eyes widened in horror.

They turned, and looked up to the balcony above. A lone figure stood there on the ledge above, his long jacket blowing in the breeze, and one wing flowing beside him. He moved his leg, and there was a click as his scabbard juddered along the metal railings.

Tsurumon straightened up, his eyes narrowing as he stepped forwards. “Rhyncomon...”

The magpie snorted. “It’s disappointing to see you falling so far, old friend.”

The crane didn’t budge, ignoring the taunt. Andriamon stepped forwards, her arms pulsing with internal flame. “Let me guess; the firestorm back there is your business?”

“I found him. He works for me. But he won’t last long.” Rhyncomon rolled his neck, and hopped up to his feet, balancing on the edge of the metal, perfectly still even despite one clearly ragged wing. “None of you will at this rate. The city is broken beyond your control. But I can help.”

His eyes moved, scanning the group of evacuees before him. “Your instincts are right; all these tamers can do is sell you a lie. But I can look after you. I can help you rebuild. I have connections, and abilities, and I will never discriminate. All I would ask is your obedience.”

Tsurumon hissed. “Look at you, Rhyncomon; you’re a wreck. How could you possibly think you could take control of anybody now?”

Rhyncomon said nothing. But his hand went mechanically to his pommel, and a glint of black steel shone through the low light. His eyes flicked up, and focused on the Orcamon.

“Iron Eclipse!”

“No!”

The whale backed away as the blade swung above her, but before she could even let out a yell somebody slammed into the side of her. She crashed downwards, Harriet landing on top of her, but the blow struck where she had been standing and blew the both of them back, cracking the concrete and sending shards flying wide. The dust cleared, leaving a crater in the midst of the group, as they held themselves by the edge.

Rhyncomon calmly waved his sword back, keeping it unsheathed. “You are mistaken. I wasn’t giving you a choice to join me or not. Your choice is to join me or die here. There are many still out there. I will have my subjects. But if you’re of no use to me then I will no longer allow you to live on.”

“Bastard!”

Andriamon leapt forwards, raising her right arm as the flames rolled over the top. “We don’t have time for you! Barberous Blaze!”

The fire pulsed upwards, but Rhyncomon was quicker, leaping up off the balcony and running up the opposite wall. Andriamon skidded backwards as the flaming metal came crashing down in front of her, and looked back hurriedly.

“Watch out!”

“Iron Eclipse!”

The air parted again, and Andriamon went down as a blade of energy glanced off her still-flaming shoulder. She cried out, crashing to the ground, a large gash in her armoured forearm. Lonnie looked up, seeing the distant glint of the steel.

“He’s got the high ground! We’re sitting ducks in here!”

“Lonnie, get with the others.”

“Lyra?”

The redhead turned as Lyra stood stock still, her digivice clasped in her hand. The girl looked more exhausted than ever, her face gaunt and her skin pale. But as she looked up, there was a look of tired resignation in her eyes.

“We can deal with him. Get everyone out of here.”

Lonnie bit her lip. “Lyra...he’s given you enough trouble as it is. We need to stay together now; if we don’t...”

“Hey, it’s all the more reason for me to get rid of him now then, isn’t it.”

Lyra tilted her head sideways, smiling weakly. “Besides, if I’m ever going to smile like you can, and promise things will be okay, then I’m just going to have to prove that, aren’t I?”

Lonnie opened her mouth, but she couldn’t think of anything to say. Lyra stepped back, holding her arm out as the wand of light extended from the end, leaving golden lights behind it.

“Tsurumon?”

“Shouldn’t you stay down here?”

“No. I need to see him. I need to face him.” She stared up, seeing the distant silhouette above the building.”

“Take me up.”

“Tsurumon, Tamashi no Ongaku! Shinka!”

In a rush of ribbons and string, the lights burst out, engulfing both tamer and crane. Then, all of a sudden, they stood above, held aloft by the golden strings. And they rose up, more strings erupting from Senbazumon’s cage and forming a seal between the close walls. The evacuees looked up, seeing lights dancing above as the view of the sky was covered with a woven golden film. Lonnie held her breath,

“Good luck, Lyra.”

She turned towards the others, holding one arm on Dendromon’s shoulder, and keeping her smile on.

“Come on everyone. She’s giving us a way through.”

Far above the alley below, Lyra stood completely steady, feeling the slight warmth from the platform of strings below her. Senbazumon rose just above her, one hand on his windmill, and one hand keeping the cage going below. They rose together, until they were at the same level as the building, where Rhyncomon stood patiently. Lyra pulled a face.

“You really do look awful.”

Rhyncomon glanced over his shoulder, his look venomous. But there was no hiding it at this distance. One wing was half sheared off, the shard of bone utterly burned away. Most of his feathers were speckled with grey and white, his hands were shaking slightly, and his clothes were ragged. Yet he didn’t allow himself to buckle, staying just a few inches above Lyra as he turned around. She gestured down.

“You not chasing after your new subjects then?”

There was no reply. Only the slow, deliberate movements before her. She shook her head, answering her own question.

“No, of course not. You don’t make light threats; you just take something if you want it. That was just manipulation, right? You’re after me.”

Senbazumon turned his head, his mask fluttering in the breeze. Rhyncomon’s grip tightened around his sword.

“You think I didn’t hear you, Lyra? You know your own feelings. You don’t belong with them. You’re not a hero. You’re a survivor. And yet again, you’re standing before me, and your stubbornness is killing you.”

“Must be a trait we share.”

Rhyncomon bowed his head. “You’re the only one who I’ve ever worked with who’s been the same. And the only one left.” His eyes flashed. “Abandon them. Stay with me. In this world, or the other world. That’s where your potential lies and you know it.”

He held out a hand, but Lyra stepped back, the platform shifting beneath her. She still held the baton tightly, the light shining at the end.

“Is it lonely?”

“What?”

“Where you are? Trying so desperately to have someone at your beck and call, just so you can feel in control?”

She allowed herself a smirk, and twisted the baton in her hand, her feet shifting on the strings beneath her.

“Where’s Reynarimon? The Kokuwamon? And that thing back there...how long did you have a collar round his neck before you lost control?”

Rhyncomon said nothing. But Lyra noticed the twitch at the side of his beak, giving away more than a response ever could.

“And now you’re here begging to have me back, to the point you’re threatening innocent people. And yet you still expect me to bow to you?”

Rhyncomon let out a sigh, his sword tilting up and down in his palm.

“I’m a master at collecting. Be it arms, or information. You don’t feel you belong with them; you don’t think you deserve it. Why are you lying to me? To yourself?”

Lyra looked down, seeing the group moving beneath the golden threads.

“Because I asked for help, and they gave it happily. And for the first time in my life they didn’t expect servitude, or obedience, or payment. They gave me acceptance, and love; more than I ever deserved or ever hoped for. They really are the heroes I stopped believing in so long ago.”

She held a hand up to her chest. “I’m going to fight until I can stand alongside them because I owe them nothing less. And I’ll be damned if I ever give that up for anyone’s sake, least of all yours.”

“Disappointing...” Rhyncomon clicked his beak. “Even after all I’m offering you-“

“Yeah, uh...what are you offering me exactly?”

Rhyncomon paused, the question catching him off guard as Lyra tilted her head.

“I always thought you were two steps ahead of everybody else. You made me think that. But now, I can see you properly.”

Lyra straightened up her platform putting her at eye level with the magpie as her gaze burned into him.

“You don’t have a plan. You don’t have any assets. You don’t have anything except a sword, one wing and a pretty word or two.”

“Be quiet.”

“Why? Because I’m right? Because I can see right through you now?” Lyra laughed, just briefly, holding a hand to the side of her head. “I’m nothing but an idiot, and I somehow sold my soul to a bigger idiot.”

“I said-“

“That’s the truth, isn’t it Rhyncomon. For all your posing and flexing...” Lyra reached out, pointing her baton directly at the magpie’s face.

“...you’re not as smart as you think you are.”

Rhyncomon flinched. Not out of hurt, or shock; just a visible, raw spasm of utter fury. Lyra stepped back, as she watched him clasp his sword, his grip firm.

“I always thought you were a survivor...”

“I still am.” The girl stepped back again, holding up her baton as Senbazumon grasped his windmill beside her, the strings billowing out beneath him. “I’ve just finally found something worth dying for.”

“Then die for it.”

Rhyncomon turned, swinging his sword out as the energy shimmered along the blade.

“Iron Eclipse!”

Martyaxmon could feel his blood boiling as he ran through tracks of flame. Despite his natural resistance it was searing into him, blackening portions of his skin. But he didn’t slow down, summoning more and more of the small beads from around his body as he roared.

“Crimson Wrath!”

He leapt high as Mistymon swung for him, the beads spinning around him and softening the blow of the sword. He broke through, and planted his paws out, landing a brutal burst on the warlock’s armoured chest. It caved in, but the metal did not shattered, fused as it was to Mistymon’s flesh. Spurts of glowing bile spat forth, one striking Martyaxmon in the eye and causing him to roar in pain.

“Ccccccc.....cccoooommmAAAAANDEEEEER!”

Mistymon’s face split apart, more magma spilling out from his torn, blackened jaws. There was no substance to his body anymore, and no thought driving it. Only a sense of hate and rage and betrayal, directed at the manticore in his line of vision.

“Royal Flint!”

Martyaxmon ducked down as the warlock’s fist came at him, and his beads lashed out at Mistymon’s leg. But they merely scraped the surface, chipping away hardened skin but no more. Two more hits gave similar results, and Martyaxmon was forced to back away as Mistymon held out his right hand. A coagulated orb of slag took the place of his hand, and it burst outwards in a vicious beam, crazing across Martyaxmon’s side and forcing him to retreat. He winced, feeling a raw pain on his cheek as the beads floated pitifully around him.

“Why is my power still rejecting me?”

Another blast, forcing him to leap sideways. He landed with his feet wide, and let out a furious and desperate roar, summoning every bead around his body even as the pain coursed through him. They spun in front of him, forming a perfect circle, a glowing disc in the air. But even as he poured as much energy as he could into them, it would not ignite.

“Come on! Let me fix this one damn mistake!”

Mistymon lurched sideways, his body shimmering with the heat. He took a step, his foot dragging melted tarmac with it, and with an arm so limp it may have been pulled with a string, he raised his sword up. Magma dribbled down the blade from his split flesh, igniting instantly as he swung it down.

“Bbbblllaaaast....FIIIIIRE!”

Martyaxmon held out until the very last moment, closing his eyes as the sword descended. It shattered the disc in front of him, sending the heavy beads in all directions. The manticore himself was sent flying backwards, crashing into a building, before slumping on the ground, his form shimmering with the blow. He focused on the pain, trying to keep himself stable, as he pushed himself up agonisingly slowly.

“Stings, doesn’t it.”

Martyaxmon’s eyes flicked sideways, and he let out a harsh, humourless laugh. “Oh come on...how many demons do I have to face? How long do I have to endure this hell for?”

Aaron popped his cheeks out, and planted his thumbs in his pockets. “Charming. We run to help and get insulted for it.”

“I never asked for you.”

Martyaxmon pushed himself into a sitting position, but had to stay for a few moments, barely any energy within him. Velocimon folded his arms beside his partner, and looked across the block at Mistymon, which had been disorientated by its own attack, currently lurching from building to building.

“Another Fire Tyrant, huh? I thought they’d all burned up years ago.”

Martyaxmon shook his head. “He was one of my soldiers. I think. I don’t remember; there used to be so many. Now he’s just another monument to my sins.” He raised his head, his eyelids heavy. “I...I never asked for any of this.”

“What did you expect?” Velocimon blinked, fixing the manticore with a hard stare. “You burned down half the world. The half that remains isn’t ever going to forget that.”

There was a hiss from the Fire Tyrant, which turned into a distant drooling call of ‘Cooommmaaaandeeeer...’ Martyaxmon winced, and pushed himself fully to his feet, the red hot beads rolling across the scorched ground towards him.

“I don’t want or need your help. Get out of the way, the war’s over now. Get back to your own lives.”

Aaron gritted his teeth. “Martyaxmon, look at yourself. He’s going to kill you.”

“Then I deserve it. Either I fix my mistakes here and now, or I die trying.”

He took a step, but stumbled, his leg collapsing beneath him. He pushed himself back up, but all of a sudden there was a flash next to him, and Galvamon was crouched beside him, holding him steady. The manticore yowled, and snapped at the lizard.

“Let go of me!”

“Screw that. I’m not letting you die here.”

“What do you care? You hate me. All of you hate me, and all of you should! I put you all through hell; what do you care if I die or not?”

“Oh trust me, we hate you. No-one’s debating that.”

Martyaxmon’s eyes flicked up to Aaron, who looked more tired than ever, one hand in his pocket and one around his D-Nexus.

“Then why, human soldier?”

Aaron looked up, the flames dancing in his eyes. The heat pushed against his skin, the feeling uncomfortable and familiar at once.

“Your war damaged so many people, commander. Not just you. Us two as well. And so many out there, fleeing to this world, and trying to heal.” He looked down, his gaze accusing. “You really think you’ll ever make up for that by dying here, where no-one can see you? Or how you’ve changed?”

Martyaxmon held his mouth open, but all that came out was a reserved sigh.

“Human...no, Aaron. What more do you want from me?”

“I want you to live. And I want you to keep paying for what you’ve done.” Aaron held his chin. “You do want to atone, right?”

“...”

Martyaxmon ground his teeth, and held his head low. For a moment he looked older than ever, his beard and fur speckled with black and grey as the other two watched.

“...more than anything.”

“There we go then.” Galvamon cracked his knuckles. “Well, let’s deal with this one first, shall we?”

As if in response, the ground shook, and Mistymon swayed towards them, both hands now fused into flaming weapons. Martyaxmon snorted. “He’s burning up. That’s when they always became the most dangerous.”

Galvamon whistled. “We’d better make this quick, then.”

“Why on earth are you trusting me now?”

“Because I know you. You’re a tyrant, and a warlord, but you’re no liar.”

Martyaxmon made a face. “God, you people still make me sick.”

“Take the lead, commander.”

“Keep up, general.”

Aaron stepped back, holding his D-Nexus to his chest as the two Digimon ran forwards towards the flaming behemoth, building energy between them.

“Strike Thunder!”

“Crimson Wrath!”

Steel against bamboo. Sandal against wing. Beak against string. Senbazumon and Rhyncomon traded blow after blow, faster and faster as they leapt back and forth around the rooftops. Rhyncomon drove forwards, slashing left and right as Senbazumon rolled with the blows. The magpie pulled a feint, before stabbing forwards, the katana piercing into Senbazumon’s side.

“Thousand Star!”

The wind warrior steppe back, swinging his arm out as the hundreds of paper cranes swarmed forwards, driving the magpie back. Senbazumon took a second, holding a hand to his side, and the damp gash that now lay there. But he knew he couldn’t stay there, and leapt up, planting one sandal after the other into Rhyncomon’s face.

“Stop moving!”

Rhyncomon swung sideways, knocking Senbazumon off balance, but with a twist of his arm there was another circle of string beneath his leg, and he leapt off it, powering forwards as his windmill spun at a frightening pace. It only grazed the magpie though, and Rhyncomon leapt forwards as well, taking advantage of the shifting strings to reposition himself and land a brutal elbow into Senbazumon’s neck. The crane staggered, and Rhyncomon twisted round, wrenching his opponent’s arm sideways and throwing him to the rooftop. In a swift movement he spun his sword, holding the point straight down.

Clang

The metal struck the windmill again, generating sparks as Senbazumon barely managed to roll it away. He pulled his cage in, and lunged up, sending a volley of strings up into Rhyncomon’s chest. Lyra held tightly to her own platform as it shifted, her partner trying to keep her away from the fray as well as several other things as well.

Rhyncomon was driven back by the torrent, but he held up his blade, cleaving the golden torrent with a steady hand. He yelled, swinging his sword sideways, and began to run sideways, Senbazumon matching him for speed as they both prepared for another strike.

“Look at us, Tsurumon. We could have run this world from the shadows together, as equals. But you ran away from me, casting it aside for what? For the sake of a single little girl.”

He lunged forwards, the pommel of his sword cracking into Senbazumon’s shin. The crane stumbled, and swung his arm, sharp strings lurching sideways, but Rhyncomon flipped back, kicking them away with the flat of his sandals. Senbazumon’s robe flowed behind him, and he held his hat down.

“That little girl gave me more reason to live than you could have managed in a thousand years.”

“Then you’re blind. Chasing trinkets of love and meaning; an utter waste!”

Rhyncomon rushed forwards, parrying a swipe of the windmill and landing a devastating kick into Senbazumon’s wounded side. Senbazumon pecked back, piercing the magpie’s cheek, but Rhyncomon pulled himself away, his hand going to his sleeve.

“Obsidian Mist!”

“Thousand Star!”

The black haze was pierced by the golden swarm, but Senbazumon was still blinded, his vision breaking up in patches. He held up his arms in a best guess, but misjudged, the blade slicing diagonally across his forearm. He cried, and stepped up, trying to gain ground, but a hand closed around his ankle and he was thrust down onto the roof below. Looking up, his vision blurred, he could just make out the beak of Rhyncomon as he leapt down, the tatters of his right wing trailing behind him.

“You were always the same! You valued such ideals as justice and kindness which land you nothing. They make no difference in this world other than to sully your full potential!”

“Severing Song!”

Senbazumon thrust his arm up, but the strings were cleaved before they even reached Rhyncomon. He shuffled back, blocking hit after hit, but it was clear the magpie had the upper hand.

“I hoped you’d see that of your own free will, but you tied yourself to a human and hung off her every word. Did you really think she would give you any standing against me?”

The katana came down, and Senbazumon held both hands up, holding it back with the shaft of the windmill. But Rhyncomon pressed down, and the shaft descended, hanging beneath the crane’s neck. Rhyncomon raised a foot and slammed it down on the windmill end, crumpling the paper, and causing Senbazumon to choke as the bamboo dug into his windpipe.

“Any sense of right or karma you may feel does nothing to change the pure hard facts of this world. The strong will control the weak.”

Rhyncomon leant forwards, his eyes glinting maliciously.

“And I am, and always have been, stronger than you.”

Senbazumon pressed himself back, trying to regain any air he had left as his head pounded. He felt a ringing in his ears.

And then, something else. A tone. A song.

Rhyncomon held his posture, but despite himself he glanced back, hissing through his beak as he saw Lyra standing atop the platform. In one hand she held her violin, and in her other, her bow, and her digivice between her fingers. She moved nervously, but expertly, and the song rang out in visible waves, reaching out towards her partner. Her eyes were red raw, but they burned into Rhyncomon’s. Defiant to the end.

The magpie scowled. “What manner of human is it who pledges their life to a worthless piece of wood before their own life?”

Lyra drew her bow up, the notes coming louder and faster than ever as golden light glowed in her eyes.

“One who knows where her strength really lies.”

She finished the bar, and the energy poured outwards, bright and blinding, causing Rhyncomon to hesitate. And as he did so, Senbazumon held up his other hand, pulling the shaft of his weapon from his neck and pushing up against Rhyncomon’s pressure.

“That’s the thing, Rhyncomon. You’ll never be stronger than everyone.”

Rhyncomon’s eyes flashed, and he pulled his blade away, ready to go for the crane’s hand. But Senbazumon moved first, planting his cage into the side of the magpie’s head. Rhyncomon staggered back, and in an instant Senbazumon was on his feet, landing blow after blow from cage and windmill and string. He spun around, landing a two-footed kick as he drove Rhyncomon back towards the edge of the roof.

“Your strength was never your own! You relied on everybody else, and you had the gall to claim them as your own power? You bullied people one at a time and dropped everything the moment it became inconvenient, but when everybody dropped you, you somehow felt you deserved otherwise! You are a fraud!”

“Quiet!”

Rhyncomon swung sideways, but Senbazumon just appeared behind him, running sharp strings over his shoulders. The magpie spun, his one remaining wing flapping wildly.

“I found strength far away from you. I gained more power than I could ever have dreamed of. And more importantly, I was able to use that to give back to the people you were hurting. Because one young woman gave me a reason to do so!”

“It’s nothing but a LIE!” yelled Rhyncomon, and lunged forwards with his entire body, forcing Senbazumon back. Rhyncomon’s wing flew sideways, for a brief moment obscuring the crane’s vision with black and white feathers, as he gathered the strings before him to raise him up, to gain the high ground, to-

Crack

The blow took Senbazumon off his feet, and he hovered, blood trickling from his beak. He didn’t seem to be coming back down. The song had stopped, replaced by the ringing again. Was that a ringing? No...it was a scream. Lyra’s scream.

He looked down, seeing Rhyncomon’s fist planted against his abdomen. The sword pierced through him at an angle, the pommel hitting him with enough force to crack his ribcage. Rhyncomon’s head lay below him, the edges of the beak curled up in a smile.

“But it’s still...not enough...old friend...”

Rhyncomon drew back, pulling the sword clear in one movement. Lyra clutched forwards on her platform, which was already losing its lustre, the strings falling away.

“Tsurumon, NO!”

Rhyncomon straightened up, and turned to face her, clearly out of breath as he flicked the blood away from the steel.

“At the end of the day, we can only rely on our own strength. He had his own power, and it failed him. And without him, you have nothing at all-“

He frowned, and looked down at his wrist, where Senbazumon was grabbing hold of it, the claws digging into the magpie’s flesh. The crane coughed again, his mask ragged now. “You haven’t...finished with me yet... ”

“Then die together!”

Rhyncomon twisted around, and grabbed the wind warrior by the neck. He twisted, and threw him forwards, directly into Lyra’s path as she looked forwards, helpless to move.

Senbazumon crashed into her and they both spun backwards, strings flying out every which way as the barely conscious crane tried to hold out a hand. But Rhyncomon stood on the edge of the building, black light gathering on his sword.

“Severing...Song-“

“Iron Eclipse!”

The magpie swung, a crescent ripping through the air. As he did so, he failed to notice the golden threads wrapping around his leg, until they tightened, slicing into the skin in a spiral pattern. He yelled, and the threads went taut, pulling him downwards, where he disappeared over the edge in a second.

But the blow had already been struck. The rip in the air slammed into Senbazumon, Lyra and the platform alike, and they shot backwards into the rooftop behind them. They rolled, and fell from the edge, spinning in a bundle in the air and landing on the balcony below.

The dust sprang up. The ring in the air subsided. And for a brief moment, there was only silence.

“Charge Bolt!”

Lightning spread out in a vast web, encompassing Mistymon’s orb hand and cracking the armour all the more. But if Mistymon felt it, he didn’t show it, and his arm blasted out with white flame. Galvamon rolled sideways, hissing under his breath as the searing fluid peppered his shoulder.

“I really thought I was past this kind of treatment.”

“Out of the way!”

The dinosaur man shifted to the right as Martyaxmon leapt forwards, grabbing hold of the warlock’s wrist and wrenching the arm sideways. Mistymon growled, pulling backwards, but a blast of lightning struck him in the face, whiting out what remained of his vision. Martyaxmon held on, his teeth clamping down on the crumbling armour as the beads spun like a circular saw beside him.

“Royal FLINT!”

He lunged back, and the beads shot forwards, unfurling like a spring. They sliced down, searing through the wrist. The orb fell sideways, and exploded on contact with the ground, sending Martyaxmon rolling backwards. Mistymon was temporarily incapacitated as well, missing one of his fused weapons, but within seconds his pain and confusion turned to fury and he swung the stump wide, searing liquid spraying everywhere. Martyaxmon scrabbled out the way, but Galvamon wasn’t so quick, and the blast slammed into him. He cried out, rushing backwards and sending bolts over his body, but the damage was already evident; patches of black over the yellow scales, and a red-hot glow from some of his armour.

Martyaxmon landed beside him, looking very much the worse for wear himself. “The selflessness is acknowledged, but honestly your help isn’t being very helpful at the moment.”

“Hey, screw you.” Galvamon scowled, and gingerly held one shoulder. “We have limits to what we can do now as well.”

Martyaxmon glanced up, seeing Aaron at the edge of the block. He was standing straight, a determined expression on his face, but there was something unstable about his posture. Galvamon glanced up, and the young man nodded.

“Geezus...”

“Bllaaaast....Fiiiire!”

“Look out!”

Martyaxmon moved first as the wave of heat rushed forwards; he landed behind the dinosaur man, his paws glowing with red energy.

“Crimson Wrath!”

The explosions struck one another, and Martyaxmon gritted his teeth as he ploughed into the ground, trying to divert the blast away. “He’s reaching maximum capacity! He won’t last long but if we don’t stop this quickly then we’re all in trouble!”

Aaron winced, and turned towards Galvamon. “You’d better make this count then, man.”

Galvamon pulled a face, indicating he was not happy with this outcome, but he pushed himself up and turned around anyway, the yellow lights already beginning to float off around him.

“Do it then. Now.”

“Galvamon, Primal Fury! Evolution Activate!”

Martyaxmon felt the intense static from behind him as yellow lights rushed forwards, lending support to his own attack. Despite himself he smiled, forcing himself to step forwards.

“God you people are annoying...”

“Dimetromon!”

The blast of lightning sent spears out towards Mistymon, and the manticore took the opportunity, forcing himself forwards as the chain of beads swung left and right in front of him.

“You...are...not...welcome...here!”

He leapt up, the beads stretching out and slashing across the remains of Mistymon’s face. It was only a shallow blow, and with a quick movement Martyaxmon was forced sideways, lest he be cleaved by the burning sword arm. But the movement had done its job, giving the dinosaur behind him enough time to charge up.

“Go! Take him down!”

He ran back, and Dimetromon took his place, energised but stabilised as Aaron crouched down behind him. Dimetromon didn’t have time to look; he focused on the warlock before him as Mistymon rushed forwards, white flames bursting out from his wounds. Dimetromon roared, his own energy bursting out in retaliation, growing brighter and brighter with every second.

“Galvanic Overcharge!”

Lyra couldn’t move for a few seconds, her insides feeling like they had been wrenched apart. She choked, and yelled, and thrust herself forwards, before instantly buckling over in pain again. One ankle was throbbing, and as she reached out she saw her hands were running with blood, the impact having taken the skin off her arms.

She thrust it to the back of her mind, looking around as her vision blurred. She placed a palm down, and nearly stumbled forwards as it curled around the edge of her violin. She gasped, and drew the instrument up from beneath the pile of rubble. It was more roughed up than ever, with chips in the bodywork and one frayed string. She scrabbled for the bow, holding it up in an attempt to get a sound out; get some sense of where she was.

She held the bow up, and it swung away in her hands. She looked at it in horror, seeing the handle completely sheared in two. The strings hung loosely between the two shards, already tangled.

“No...”

“Lyra...”

Lyra started, and stifled a scream as she saw Senbazumon’s still body not three metres from her. She tried to stand, but her body wouldn’t let her. There was a yell in the distance, and she became briefly aware of Rhyncomon’s struggling form, kicking against the wall and dropping blood as he tried to get back to solider ground.

She blanked him out. Blanked the violin, and the fear, and the pain, as she shuffled forwards, holding her hand over Senbazumon’s dust-covered form. He twitched as she touched him, and tried to roll over. But it only forced more coughs out of him.

“Tsurumon...please...you have to get up...”

Lyra’s voice was pitifully small as she held onto her partner, her cheeks streaked with brick dust and her own tears. She reached out, her hand falling on her partner’s chest, but the papery skin buzzed against her fingers, and the crane man flinched, wisps of data falling away from his body. Lyra sat back, holding her digivice tightly in her palm. The baton was flickering gently, so faint it was almost invisible.

“Please don’t leave me...”

She held onto her partner’s wrist, even as it seemed to phase in and out of existence in her grip. But she didn’t let go, not even with her entire body begging her to fall, to sleep, to finally give in. The hand twisted around, and Senbazumon weakly ran his fingers through hers.

“I can...I can still hear the song...” His beak edged towards her, the flesh flickering. “Can you...play it again?”

Lyra blinked, her cheeks being splattered with tears as she held up the remains of the bow. “I...I can’t...”

There was stillness for a few seconds. Then Senbazumon shook, laughing weakly.

“Of course...you were always singing that same song, weren’t you? All the way through.”

His hand curled round, and he sat up, his right arm weak from the hole in his chest. There was a clatter from the distant roof, and the two looked behind them, seeing Rhyncomon’s silhouette on the edge of the building. The crane leant forwards, and held a hand to his chest, barely holding his form. Then, he didn’t. Lyra leant back, holding her arms out as Tsurumon fell forwards; still broken, but still breathing. He held his head against her chest, as if listening to her heartbeat.

“I know you, Lyra. Deep down, you’ve never changed. You’ve always sung out for the world, whether it listened or not. Whatever happened, you never betrayed who you were. Who you are.”

Tsurumon sat up, the creases cracking on his papery skin.

“All this time...you never stopped playing your song. Not once.”

Lyra smiled. “You must know it well.”

“I’ll never stop listening. It gives me hope.”

“That’s what the world needs, isn’t it?”

The girl closed her eyes. One hand gripped the handle of her violin, pulling it closer. The other held her D-SEND, feeling an odd warmth within the tiny device.

“Shall we make the whole world listen, then?”

Tsurumon nodded. “It can’t ignore us now. Not when we sing together.”

As the dust fell down and the world began to darken, Lyra began to hum, and Tsurumon joined her.

One voice cracking and weak, and the other papery thin, and sharp.

But they merged. Hovered back and forth, but followed one another. And Lyra sat up, and raised her arms. Her violin nestled beneath her chin, and she held her digivice up, and began to play.

The light spiralled out from the end of the device, the baton brightening again. And then it carried on, with every movement growing longer, and brighter. The lights twisted, and thinned out, forming fine strands held by the glowing shaft. And they stroked the strings of the violin, and the song was joined by a new, shining tone.

Rhyncomon had just pulled himself up when he heard it; a new orchestra, singing behind him. He pressed his beak together, and turned around, one eye stained red from a wayward slash. But even so, the light coming from the balcony below him was bright, too bright. The strings reached outwards, forming staves and notes and rests, playing across the sky. And at the centre of it all were two voices, and one violin, and a single, sonorous song.

“Tamashi no Kokyokyoku!”

The light built, and as it did so more and more layers of sound were added, the balcony shimmering beneath them. Rhyncomon growled, and twisted around, thrusting his sword down through the air.

“Iron Eclipse!”

The blast struck true, burrowing into the centre of the light. With a clang the balcony gave way, the two severed halves tumbling down and smashing on the ground below.

But the light stayed in place, rising up like a miniature sun. Rhyncomon stepped back, unable to look at it anymore. But through the rushing orchestra, he could hear it nonetheless.

“Chou Shinka!”

The bass roared, penetrating the broken city for miles around. And it built; the hum of cellos, the harmony of violas, and above it all, the pure tone of a lone violin. Note after note danced through the sky, the lights rolling like a stave, twisting around the glowing light at the centre. More ribbons danced all around, forming intricate shapes. Birds in the sky. Then Tsurumon, amongst them, spinning in time to the melody, and unfurling like a flower, forming Orizumon’s grand wings. And then unfolding again, and Senbazumon stepped out, perfectly balanced amongst the visual symphony.

And then they folded in, the scales descending inwards, before out of nowhere building further and further. The time signature lost a beat, growing more frantic. More driving. The staves reached down, spinning around and spiralling into a new, larger shape. Legs. Arms. More arms. Great wings, reaching out towards the sky.

The lights held still, and the violin paused, holding on a perfect fourth. The harmonies caught up. The bass built.

And the violin struck a final note, and the sounds collapsed into place.

Lyra sat back, breathless, and still pained from the exhilaration. But she grinned nonetheless, holding the glowing bow down, but not completely, preparing for another movement.

“That was quite something.”

“That’s just the opening act.”

The voice was deep and multilayered, like a million sheets of paper rustling together. The young woman started, and her nerves played around her surroundings, rippling through the strands of paper like the wind through leaves. She raised an eyebrow, before placing a hand down; she realised she was sitting on some kind of throne, carved from mahogany and etched with gold. The wind rustled through her air, like it always did when she was flying aloft. Swallowing, she leant forwards, taking in what had become of her partner.

He had grown considerably, able to stand above a two storey house if he desired. But now he was airborne, holding himself up with slow flaps of two vast wings either side of him; neither feather nor skin, but lined with hundreds of interlocking ribbons of paper. At first glance he may have seemed to be a huge bird, but his stance was humanoid, with his torso held in a mahogany chestpiece, much like the chair she was sat on. In fact, they were connected; a throne atop the Digimon’s body, allowing her to perform with him on the battlefield.

His legs hung low, wrapped in white ribbon, with five interlocking talons protruding from the end. His arms were much the same, but there were four of them, and with them he held an instrument of his own; a vast kokyu held steadily in his grasp, with the bow clutched in his other left arm. He had a flowing tail of paper ribbons, and a papery crest protruding from a smooth wooden helmet. His eyes were piercing, shining like burnished gold, and a long, beak-like nose protruded from the front of his face, seemingly fashioned from ebony and gold.

The wings beat low again, and from deep within the great bird’s chest there came a rumbling roar, backed by a million strings.

“GrandTengumon!”

Bolts pierced Mistymon’s frame, and his head split apart with a horrifying roar, great geysers forming in the warlock’s fused armour. Dimetromon held fast, but he couldn’t fully focus, feeling his own power fluctuating. It gave way, and within a second Mistymon was falling forwards, his remaining limbs aflame. One of them swept sideways and slammed into Dimetromon’s head, the heat so intense it left a red hot dent in his metal jaw. Mistymon swung back and forth, swiping again and again, with no means of stopping.

“Crimson Wrath!”

“Watch out!”

The red energy sent Mistymon reeling, giving Dimetromon time to swing around, slamming his tail into the warlock’s side. It didn’t stop him, but it gave the dinosaur a chance to back up, his armour plating steaming. Martyaxmon hovered a few feet from him, still not fully recovered himself. But they were keeping better than Mistymon before them. The warlock was swaying, every movement causing more of its flesh to melt away. It had taken years. But the fiery affliction had more than caught up with him, and before the two stood a Fire Tyrant in its final throes of devastation.

It charged forwards, waves of lava spilling away from the remnants of both arms. They carved into the tarmac, and caught both Dimetromon and Martyaxmon, sending them backwards. The manticore recovered first, swinging his bead chain around him and wrapping it around Mistymon’s neck. The beast lurched forwards, and Martyaxmon growled.

“Again! Hit him with everything you have; we have to bring this to a stop now before this spreads!”

Dimetromon pushed himself up, looking behind himself. Aaron was stood further back, but he was leant against a building, clearly in a bad way himself from the rush of power. The dinosaur hesitated for a few crucial seconds, before Martyaxmon’s warning snapped him back to reality.

“Dimetromon!”

The dinosaur ducked, but misjudged it as another wave of magma slammed into him. Pain burst through his body, and as he tried to charge up he realised that several of his cannons were just fizzling uselessly from where the wave of flame had hit him. Mistymon lurched forwards again, and Dimetromon tilted his whole body up, his sail spinning as fast as he could, digging into Mistymon’s chest. The heat grasped out at him, but he held in place, pressing backwards.

“It...needs to be you!”

Martyaxmon hissed, pulling back as the bead chain swung back and forth in front of him. “I don’t have the power anymore!”

“You’re a commander!” Dimetromon’s teeth ground together, releasing sparks. “If...I can come back like this...then what the hell is your excuse?”

“BBbbbbzzzlalsstf.....FFFHFGHHIIFH!”

A blast front struck Dimetromon, and he let out a breath, his front legs collapsing beneath him. The movement severed the bead chain, and Martyaxmon stumbled back, watching as Mistymon fell forwards, clawing at the dinosaur’s armour.

“No...no, no, I won’t allow this anymore!”

He roared, and the beads returned to him, spinning around before him into a glowing disc. And further and faster, the movement forcing him backwards, but he gripped his claws into the soft tarmac beneath as he tried to keep himself stable, pouring more and more energy inwards.

At the edge of the battlefield, Aaron, stumbled, but held himself upright as he watched the manticore glowing, faintly at first, but then more intensely as he called upon a long forgotten power.

“Come on, you’ve got this...”

“Rosary...CYCLONE!”

Martyaxmon roared, and his roar transferred into the disc before him, forming a beam of fire that shot forwards with an intense precision. It struck Mistymon’s volatile form, and carried on through, piercing the building beyond and firing up into the sky. For a moment it remained straight, virtually unbroken. Then Martyaxmon stumbled, and the beam swung sideways, tearing through Mistymon’s torso.

A column of flame rose up, the heat sending the manticore tumbling back as his beads fired in all directions. He just about kept his eyes open, watching as Mistymon staggered back and forth, the form barely even coherent anymore. The warlock’s screams gave way to the roar of a volcano, and soon not even that, just rushing noise. The armoured body fell in on itself, collapsing inwards, into a heap of molten metal and flesh.

It groaned

Creaked.

And before Martyaxmon or Dimetromon even had a chance to back up, it exploded.

Rhyncomon didn’t move for a few seconds, save for his eyes darting back and forth, taking in the new figure in front of him. Then, unexpectedly, he leant forwards, his blade turning in the sunlight.

“You think I’m impressed?”

GrandTengumon tilted his head sideways just slightly, holding tightly to the edge of the building. He didn’t answer. Neither did Lyra, as she sat back on the throne. Rhyncomon twitched, and his beak curled upwards.

“You think you can scare me with this? More tricks, more sound shows; it changes absolutely nothing.” He snarled, and raised his sword back, fire in his gaze.

“Iron ECLIPSE!”

The blade swung around in a wide arc, sending a crescent of black flying directly towards the vast crane. It struck in a split second, and GrandTengumon was driven back, holding out his remaining arm to guard against the blow. He remained still, the papery skin flapping in the wind from where the blow had cleaved into him. But if he felt any pain, he didn’t show it, simply bringing the arm back down.

“Leave.”

Rhyncomon’s eyes widened at the crane’s booming voice. “What did you say to me?”

“You heard me. Leave. Get out of this town. Leave these people alone. You have no power here anymore.”

The magpie reacted in an instant, leaping forwards as he spread his remaining wing wide. He leapt, and curled down as he held his sword-arm wide.

“I don’t take orders from you! Obsidian Mist!”

He landed neatly, the sword swinging backwards as he thrust his other arm forwards. The black haze shot out, but GrandTengumon spread his wings wide. His vision darkened from the contact, but he leapt up, his wings beating down as Lyra held on above him. His eyes flicked up towards her.

“Are you scared?”

The girl smiled, and held her glowing bow to her violin, perfectly balanced atop her partner’s back.

“Not anymore.”

“Iron Eclipse!”

The blade swung sideways again, but both Lyra and GrandTengumon drew their bows across their instruments. A chord rang out, destabilising the attack which just glanced off GrandTengumon’s legs. It travelled down, the full brunt of it hitting Rhyncomon, and he stumbled from the sound. The great crane didn’t leave an opening; he veered down, his and Lyra’s sounds melding together, and swung one leg around, slamming it into Rhyncomon’s torso with a crack.

The magpie shot backwards, clearing the roof and rolling onto the next, although he kept a hold of his katana nonetheless. He swung upwards, but another wave of sound hit him, the two string instruments perfectly in tune and rupturing the air around him. And more as well, as GrandTengumon flew upwards, his skin rustling. Reams of paper burst from his body, folding in time to the melody as his eyes flashed orange.

“Myriad Fortune!”

Rhyncomon had barely taken a step when the reams rushed forwards, forming cranes of every shape and size, all with piercing eyes and razor-sharp wings. The magpie flung his sword wide, taking out a swathe of them, but more of them swept forwards and he soon found himself running for his life. They circled around him, slashing with wing and stabbing with beak, each movement a crotchet in this symphony of pain.

He fought back, cutting through the storm of paper with a remarkable tenacity and skill, but the sheer number and fluidity of the cranes was still overwhelming. They moved as one, slicing at his arms and legs, tearing his feathers, gouging at his face. His moves grew more desperate and more chaotic, until finally with a guttural roar he swung around, cleaving the remainder of the storm in two. He collapsed to one knee, bleeding from several gaping wounds and breathing heavily. A shadow fell across him, and he became vaguely aware of a lull in the music. He looked up, and saw GrandTengumon hovering over him, his bow held tightly against the strings of the kokyu.

Rhyncomon hissed, pushing himself up. “I didn’t ask for your petty tricks! Bring yourself down to my level and fight me, you coward!”

GrandTengumon blinked slowly. “I’m a coward?”

Rhyncomon leapt forwards, clambering onto the next roof, but the crane backed up, letting off another stream of notes. “Look at yourself, Rhyncomon. Your entire life, you’ve depended on other people. Any power you thought you had has been wrestled from the bloodied hands of the people you’ve enslaved and abused.”

“Obsidian Mist!”

It was a wild gesture, but it struck true. But even then, GrandTengumon didn’t falter. Even as his vision turned completely black, he moved perfectly, using the sound to navigate around him.

“You can’t even envisage being without someone to command. To obey you. Maybe you could once. But you’ve been blinded by your own self-importance. You can’t even fathom that two of us would ever find something more important than you.”

“SHUT UP! IRON ECLIPSE!”

The crescent flew wide, merely grazing over GrandTengumon’s shoulder. The crane hovered above, the music coming to a bridge. He lowered his head, and Lyra leant forwards, holding the melody in the palm of her hand.

“Nobody else is going to be hurt by you, Rhyncomon. Not me, not Tsurumon; no-one. We said you have no power here anymore, and you won’t have ever again.”

“I didn’t come to hear you talk!”

GrandTengumon spread his wings wide, and held out his free arms as the bow travelled across the strings, pulling a single string of sound from the movement. It travelled up, and intertwined with Lyra’s, before spiralling all around, getting faster and faster as the music sped up. Rhyncomon landed, and sprang forwards, black energy raging from his sword as he lunged for GrandTengumon’s neck, going for a killing blow.

“FIGHT ME!”

It happened within a single second, as time slowed, Rhyncomon caught in mid-air by the symphony.

“Dividing Thread!”

There was a flash, and Rhyncomon gasped, seeing the katana shatter to a hundred fragments in front of him. The thread continued on its path, heading up towards the sky and blinking away into lights.

Pain.

Searing, burning pain.

Rhyncomon’s eyes glanced sideways, seeing the handle of the sword in his right hand, with only a few jagged bits of blade sticking out. GrandTengumon hovered before him, his voice calm as ever.

“There’s no need for me to kill you. We’ve already won.”

Rhyncomon watched in horror as his hand opened, completely out of his control. It backed away, and so did his remaining wing, the feathers fluttering in the wind as they detached. They turned silver, disintegrating into white, and leaving him held in mid-air by the vindictive song in front of him. One arm. Half a wing. Utterly defenseless.

GrandTengumon leant forwards, a venom in his eyes.

“Return to the streets. Start again. Run and survive. Earn your power, or die in your own obsolescence. But whatever you do...”

His eyes burned into Rhyncomon’s, as the song grew to a critical point, burning into the air all around. Lyra stood up, towering above the magpie for the first time in her life, holding the violin as high as she could.

“Never come after us again.”

She and her partner struck true, the final chord slamming into Rhyncomon like a freight train.

He spun away, screaming as he did so, and he fell, uncontrolled and unable to stop himself.

And his screams died away, replaced by the final low notes of the two partners.

GrandTengumon descended, clutching onto the roof as he held his head low. Lyra sat back herself, eyes spinning in her head as she took in the magnificence and exhaustion of it all. She laughed, and her partner laughed with her, their voices joining in impromptu harmony together. Eventually the great crane raised his head.

“I never thought it would end like this.”

“Who said it’s ended yet?”

GrandTengumon turned his head in curiosity, and Lyra took in a breath, holding her violin close once again.

“After all, we still have people to save, don’t we?”

The heat blast flew wide, sending Aaron reeling, even as he stood far back and behind an abandoned house. For a moment he was paralysed, his senses overwhelmed with a consistent ringing, and his body feeling light and not his own, save for a worrying pulsing in his torso.

Then the heat dissipated, and a few seconds later, he stepped forwards, movement returning to his body. He waited, focusing all his energy on staying upright as he took slow, steady breaths, waiting the agonising period for his heartbeat to return to normal. Well, as normal as it could, with the digital half still reacting to the sudden surge of energy.

He took a step, and then another. Keeping his rhythm steady, and his speed slow. He looked around, and winced; the block had been torn apart by flames and magma from Mistymon’s rampage; so hot that in many places there hadn’t even been any ash left over, just a few, small, white flames, dotted around the place. There was nothing left of Mistymon himself; not armour, flesh nor bone. The cratered road was barren, save for the two Digimon who had taken the brunt of the final explosion.

Aaron coughed, and made his way over to his partner, who had shrunk down to his Rookie stage instantaneously. Even then his body had been severely beaten up; dark patches over his skin, singed feathers, and a dark look in his eyes. He stared up at Aaron, made to speak, but instead coughed up a couple of mouthfuls of dark smog.

“I have to say...I haven’t missed this.”

“You and me both, man.”

The boy crouched down, and gently helped the dinosaur up to his feet. Velocimon winced as he stepped down, every movement cracking the dry burns over his scales. Still, he looked up at the young man, watching his own tentative movements.

“You’re okay, right? I didn’t take too much from you?”

Aaron shrugged. “I’ve had worse.”

“Not what I asked.” The dinosaur sighed, scratching behind his head. “But you’re dodging the question, so I suppose that’s good for you.”

“I have to thank you.”

Tamer and partner turned sideways, as they saw Martyaxmon standing not ten feet away. He was also looking worse for wear, his ornate markings blackened by the repeated assaults. And yet he held himself slightly differently, the battle having re-awakened something within him. Something he’d convinced himself he’d lost.

The manticore bowed his head. “You truly are better soldiers than me. Both of you.”

He turned, the new beads spinning around his midriff as his mane rustled in the breeze.

“I know you can save this world. I believe it now.”

“Excuse me, where do you think you’re going?”

Martyaxmon paused, holding one paw in the air before him. Aaron was stood up straight, his arms folded in front of him.

“Do you really think you’re done here?”

Martyaxmon pulled a sheepish face. “I...don’t really deserve to be fighting with you, to be honest. And I don’t want to make things more difficult for you people than they have to be, after...what I’ve done-“

“Oh come off it, you’re a soldier too. Bear through it.” Aaron pointed a thumb over his shoulder. “The fact is, there’s a lot of people who still need your help. And frankly you haven’t finished yet; you’ve barely even started. So give us a hand here, commander. You owe us that much.”

Martyaxmon looked almost embarrassed for a moment, staring at the weak young man who was nonetheless staring him down with an iron will. Then the manticore let out a small laugh, turning back towards the two.

“I really hate you humans sometimes...” He shrugged, and sat down before them. “Okay then, general. Where do we go from here?”

“Ssh...” Velocimon held a palm up, looking between the two, and then up into the air. “Do you hear that?”

Aaron listened. So did Martyaxmon. The flames were dying down, and the roar of the devastation waning. And as it did so, it was replaced by a distant song; a melody playing over the rooftops and through the streets, reaching far and wide.

Aaron looked down at Velocimon, and they smiled.

“They’ve made it.”

The crowd dispersed, helping each other up onto the transporter lorries as the first of them began to drive away. Lyra leant back against the wall, taking a drink as an anxious Dendromon stood beside her.

“Do you think she’s okay?”

“Of course she is.” Lonnie looked up towards the sky. “She promised, didn’t she?”

“Lonnie...”

The girl looked forwards as her two college friends rushed up, with Courtney holding the tiny Tokomon in her arms. Lonnie raised a hand, but before she could say anything Harriet had thrust her arms around the girl’s shoulders, blubbering like a maniac.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t...I’ve been such a bitch to you and I didn’t mean to and I was just so scared and I didn’t know what to do and I didn’t I...I’m sorry, I...I’m so sorry!”

Lonnie gently patted her friend’s shoulders, before gently prising her away, standing the girl up straight. “Brave heart, Harriet. I was never mad at you, you know that.”

Harriet sniffed, her face scrunching up. “Of course you weren’t. You’re brilliant and perfect.”

Lonnie gave a half-hearted smile. “I wish...”

Harriet slumped, standing close to Courtney. “Can’t you come with us? This...you shouldn’t have to do any of this.”

A sad look from Lonnie was all she needed as confirmation. She sniffed, wiping away a tear, before promptly finding Tokomon dumped in her arms and freezing up in an instant. Courtney stepped forwards, hugging Lonnie herself, before parting again. “So what now? Do you really think you can stop all this?”

Lonnie looked down, her eyes meeting with Dendromon’s. She let out a breath. “I have to believe that. No...I do believe that. I always have. It’s my reason for being here.”

“...Courtney, she just yawned! Why does she have so many teeth?”

Courtney’s shoulders slumped, and she gently prised Tokomon away from her best friend’s arms, stroking her between the antennae. “We’re rooting for you. All of us. If anyone can save the world, it’s you.”

Lonnie swallowed, holding her hand out in front of her, and looking at the palm. She looked dazed for a moment.

Then there was the sound of calling and cheering, followed by the deep reverberation of a string ensemble floating down from above. The three girls looked up, and saw GrandTengumon on the rooftop above, with Lyra stood atop his back, playing their hearts out together for the assembled crowds. Some people were stunned silent, others were cheering and clapping, and others stood up, redoubling their efforts to help people through. The sun broke through the clouds, shining on the great crane’s body as the wind rippled through his papery wings.

Lonnie straightened up, her face bursting out into a full grin. She looked back at her two friends.

“Not quite. We’re gonna save the world. All of us, all together.”

She reached forwards, grappling Harriet and Courtney into one last bear hug, before rushing off towards the other tamer, waving behind her. Lyra saw her, and gave a quick wave, and Lonnie planted two thumbs up in reply, a new spring in her step.

“Yeah...we can make things right. Things are gonna be okay after all.”

The wind changed, rippling across the ground as she slowed. The song quietened as well, with GrandTengumon raising his head and staring out across the rooftops. A new sound entered the area; a distant melancholy call from far out at sea, piercing even this far inland. The crane stared with his beady eyes, watching the horizon from his vantage point as Lyra ended on a final chord.

“He’s coming...isn’t he...”

“This is just the beginning...”

The two looked down towards Lonnie, who pocketed her D-SEND, and beckoned her partner towards them. Her brow was furrowed, and her gaze was focused back into the city, as HelMidgarmon’s call rang out once again, signalling his approach.

“Let’s go.”